CHI3L1 and Hepatic fibrosis: Mechanistically, HCV induces the secretion of Chi3l1 in hepatic parenchymal cells by activating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-dependent pathways via cooperative induction of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, thereby further enhancing the progression of liver fibrosis via the interaction between HCV and Chi3l1 (Figure 2) [87].