Gene expression patterns in patients with CHC and advanced fibrosis (one patient with F3 and three patients with F4) showed a statistically significant upregulation of the MMP-8 gene as well as significant downregulation of the CAV-1, CTGF, LOX, PLG and TIMP-3 genes compared with controls (Figure 3, Table 4). Here, TIMP3 is linked to cryohydrocytosis.