TNF and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Proinflammatory cytokine mRNA expression, including Il6, Tnf, and Ptgs2, was also markedly increased in the NASH group compared to controls (2.29 ± 0.16-fold for IL6, p < 0.01; 16.33 ± 1.36-fold for Tnf; 4.77 ± 0.70-fold for Ptgs2; p < 0.001).