DDIT3 and Hepatic fibrosis: The results showed that the mRNA (Figure 2E) and protein expression (Figures 2F,G) of p-IRE1, GRP78, CHOP, and EDEM1 were notably up-regulated, and p58IPK mRNA (Figure 2E) and protein expression (Figures 2F,G) was decreased in liver tissue of patients with HCV-related hepatic fibrosis, which indicated that ER stress was provoked in the progression of HCV-induced liver fibrosis.