Importantly, HIV mono infection in MLH co-culture had no impact on fibrogenic gene transcriptions in HSC, while co-infection of HCV/HIV significantly augmented the expression of HCV-responsive fibrogenic genes in HSC, including CCL2, IL1A, IL1B, IL13RA2 and MMP1 (Figs 4 and 5), providing mechanistic insight into enhanced fibrogenesis in HCV/HIV co-infected patient population compared to those infected with HCV alone. Here, MMP1 is linked to infection.