CD44 and Hepatic fibrosis: Comparable pathological changes were observed in livers isolated from Cd44+/+;Nf2flox/flox;Alb-Cre, Cd44−/−;Nf2flox/flox;Alb-Cre, and Cd44flox/flox;Nf2flox/flox;Alb-Cre mice (Figure 2, Figures S2 and S3), suggesting that the status of the Cd44 gene has no influence on ductular proliferation or liver fibrosis.