Correlation analysis (Fig. 1J) revealed that IL-24 expression levels demonstrated significant negative correlations with CAP values (r = −0.61, P < 0.0001), liver stiffness measurement (LSM, r = −0.39, P < 0.0001), AST (r = −0.65, P < 0.0001), and ALT (r = −0.75, P < 0.0001), indicating a negative association between IL-24 and hepatic steatosis severity, fibrosis progression, and liver injury in MASLD patients. Here, IL24 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.