TGFB1 and Hepatic fibrosis: Although many cytokines are involved in the process of hepatic fibrosis, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a major pro-fibrogenic cytokine that orchestrates the fibrotic responses and plays a predominant role in the activation of HSCs, as well as promotion of ECM production through TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway19, 20.