AKR1A1 and Hepatic fibrosis: However, strong correlation of alcohol-induced fibrosis in human liver disease with ductular proliferation and portal inflammation [21], and our observation showing heightened fibrosis in association with increased portal inflammation and ductular proliferation, and increased number of desmin-positive cells in the portal regions, (Fig 3B; S2 Fig; Table 2) of the alcohol-fed ALR-deficient mice suggest that portal fibroblasts can continue to be important in alcohol-induced liver fibrosis.