Studies have shown role of STAT3 pathway in tissue fibrosis.10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26 In particular, STAT3 has been shown to be overexpressed in liver cirrhosis,26 and is implicated in aberrant fibroblasts activation in fibrogenesis including systemic sclerosis,10 as well as macrophage activation in vagus nerves.25 Based on our findings, STAT3 expression is overexpressed and STAT3 signaling pathway is activated in HSCs and inflammatory macrophages, and hence involved in the pathogenesis of acute liver damage. Here, STAT3 is linked to systemic sclerosis.