Furthermore, the positive involvement of MMP-19 in the development of liver fibrosis was indicated by a study showing that MMP-19-deficient mice showed impaired signaling of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a major pro-fibrotic cytokine, and attenuated liver fibrosis in the disease model mice [155]. Here, TGFB1 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.