Development of liver fibrosis was confirmed in CCl4-treated mice by significant upregulation of Col1a1 expression (Supplementary Figure S3c) and increased deposition of fibrillar collagen matrix mostly along the axes connecting the venules (bridging fibrosis) in liver samples determined by both PSR staining and quantification of hydroxyproline content (Fig. 2a–c, e). This evidence concerns the gene COL1A1 and Hepatic fibrosis.