Nuclear positivity for Twist or Snail in HPCs was firstly detected in sections of mild hepatitis (n = 1.62 ± 0.49 per cm2 and n = 1.70 ± 0.52 per cm2, respectively) (Fig. 2l, q), and the number of Twist- or Snail-positive HPCs was proportional to the severity of HBV-related disease (n = 2.65 ± 0.83, 3.79 ± 0.33, 4.91 ± 0.39 per cm2 and n = 2.41 ± 0.45, 3.66 ± 0.81, 4.78 ± 0.53 per cm2, respectively, P < 0.05). Here, TWIST1 is linked to hepatitis A virus infection.