A previous study revealed that CD147 highly expressed on HCC cells mediated the crosstalk between HCC cells and HSCs via activating HSCs characterized by high expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I and TIMP-1 as well as increased secretion of MMP2, which in turn accelerated HCC malignant progression (85). The gene discussed is TIMP1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.