VCAN and Hepatic fibrosis: In line with this, we noted a significant up-regulation of established liver fibrosis markers (Col3a1, Col1a1, Col4a2, Lox1, Timp1, Vcan) alongside newly discovered profibrotic genes (Aepb1, Prrx1, and Creb3l1) (Wang et al, 2021), as well as increased expression of genes indicative of myofibroblast activation and proliferation (Acta2, Des, Ctgf, and Cyr61) (Fig S2E).