IL21 and Hepatic fibrosis: Notably, the numbers of IL21+ cells and IL21R+ cells were positively correlated with inflammation severity (r=0.45, P<0.05; r=0.43, P<0.05; respectively) and hepatic fibrosis stages (r=0.66, P<0.01; r=0.60, P<0.01; respectively) in PBC (Figs 3e–g and 4e–g).