We observed that HBx down-regulated AP-1 activation at 0.1- to 0.2-fold of the levels of control in LX-2 cells (Fig 1A), although we also added lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), which are associated with hepatic fibrosis [28]. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and Hepatic fibrosis.