Liver fibrogenesis was confirmed by the increased deposition of collagen and the increased expression of α-Sma, a specific marker of hepatic stellate cell activation,42 in addition to the upregulation of Tgf-β and Ctgf pro-fibrotic molecules.43, 44 The neoplastic nature of the hepatocellular nodules was confirmed by histology, which identified a spectrum of lesions ranging from dysplastic foci or nodules to HCC. This evidence concerns the gene ACTA1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.