Trebicka et al. demonstrated that while systemic inflammation is present in all patients with acute decompensation (AD), those who progress to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) exhibit more pronounced and sustained inflammation, characterized by elevated IL-6, interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and human non-mercaptalbumin 2 [35]. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is acute-on-chronic liver failure.