SPP1 and cirrhosis of liver: Among the highest upregulated genes are: AKR1B10, IFI27, IL8, VTRNA1-1, SPP1, GDF15, CXCL10, IGLC7, and LGALS4. The expression of these genes is known to be strongly associated with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis and/or HCC [36–45].