TBCE and Hepatic fibrosis: To further investigate in which types of cells (hepatocytes, KCs, or HSCs) NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pyroptosis mainly occurs during the process of liver fibrosis, we examined the co-location of NLRP3 with the hepatocyte marker albumin, the KC marker F4/80 or the HSC marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in human fibrotic liver tissues.