Moreover, the downregulation or loss-of-function of the PTEN gene leads to the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate, subsequently enhancing phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and ERK activity, increasing mitogen signaling and/or decreasing apoptosis, and ultimately leading to liver fibrosis (Yang et al., 2015). Here, PTEN is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.