HIF1A and Hepatic fibrosis: HIF‐1α is not only a target gene of the Hh pathway, but a neovascularization‐driven factor, playing a role in angiogenesis and liver injury during liver fibrosis.6, 32 The IHC staining and Western blot results revealed that there was high expression of HIF‐1α in fibrotic liver tissues, and the expression could be inhibited by PB2 (Figure 5A‐C).