ACTA1 and Hepatic fibrosis: The Hepatic Stellate Cells are the main contributors of hepatic fibrosis and HSCs activity has been quantified with reference to the magnitude of fibrosis & necroinflammatory activity.4,17 The activated stellate cells express certain mesenchymal markers including α-SMA.18,19 The α-SMA expression is strikingly augmented in CHC due to stellate cells activation.