AGTR1 and Hepatic fibrosis: Furthermore, the in vitro finding that AT1 receptors are expressed on activated human HSCs and are, thus, likely to be increased in number as stellate cells proliferate, and that the binding of Ang II to these receptors induces contraction and proliferation of these cells [14], provides evidence for a potential pathway through which AT1 receptor blockers might alleviate hepatic fibrosis.