MMP9 and Hepatic fibrosis: Compared to age-matched controls, the Atp7b deficient mice showed hypertrophic hepatocytes and first signs of inflammation and hepatic fibrosis that were further documented in elevated mRNA expression of inflammatory marker IL-1β and TNF-α as well as TIMP-1, MMP-9 and the inflammasome components NLRP3 and ASC (Fig. S3A).