These pro-inflammatory signals activate HSCs through cytokine receptors (CKRs)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), leading to liver fibrosis-related molecules matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP) imbalance, promote ECM deposition and form liver fibrogenesis (27, 68) (Figure 4). Here, TIMP1 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.