TGFB1 and Hepatic fibrosis: However, CD248 expression is upregulated on activated HSCs during liver fibrosis, while in Cd248 knockout mice, CCl4-induced liver fibrosis was obviously alleviated and the expression of collagen I, α-SMA, and TGF-β were all inhibited significantly (Mogler et al. 2015; Wilhelm et al. 2016).