Although higher leptin concentrations in the hepatic vein were found in bile duct ligated-(BDL) rats than in lean sham-operated rats, and colocalization of leptin and α-smooth muscle actin in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was observed by immunohistochemistry [280], the TNF-α-associated upregulation of leptin in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced but not in BDL-induced cirrhotic rats is consistent with a difference in the roles of TNF-α in rats with nonbiliary cirrhosis and those with biliary cirrhosis [281]. Here, LEP is linked to biliary liver cirrhosis.