TIMP1 and Hepatic fibrosis: Expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) decreased, and the synthesis of metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP-1 and MMP-13 increased, thereby inhibiting HSCs activation and proliferation, increasing the clearance of activated HSCs as well as the degradation of collagen fiber, and eventually alleviating liver fibrosis [8,9].