The HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway induces the proliferation, migration and pro-fibrotic effects of HSCs and enhances the related collagen expression and pro-fibrotic cytokine production in liver fibrosis (Berzsenyi et al., 2011; Zhu et al., 2012; Hoshino et al., 2016). Here, TLR4 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.