HSPA5 and Hepatic fibrosis: ERS‐mediated apoptosis may be a key step in activating HSCs that trigger apoptosis and promote fibrosis.40 We know that ERS enhances fibrosis through IRE1a‐XBP1.36, 41 Caspase‐12 is expressed in the ER, where cleavage is important for stress‐induced apoptosis.42 We found increased expression of ERS protein markers GRP78 and Caspase12 and IREI‐XBP1 in HSCs, indicating that IREI‐XBP1 is involved in liver fibrosis.