After liver injury, multiple factors such as cytokines, chemokines or reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce the differentiation of HSCs from quiescent to myofibroblasts (MFBs), and the overproduction of smooth muscle α-actinin (α-SMA), which ultimately leads to the overproduction and deposition of ECM components and the development of HF (Kong et al., 2012; Sanchez-Valle et al., 2012; Zimmermann and Tacke, 2011). Here, ACTA1 is linked to hydrops fetalis.