In-vitro-experiments suggested that MCP-1 may activate the expression of profibrogenic genes such as TGFβ or pro-α1 chain of type I collagen in monocyte-derived macrophages by an MCP-1/CCR2-dependent amplification loop [23], indicating that local intrahepatic MCP-1 may fulfil other functions in addition to regulating monocyte recruitment in liver cirrhosis. Here, CCL2 is linked to cirrhosis of liver.