The present study was undertaken to investigate whether transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) isoforms (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) and SMADs (SMAD2 and SMAD3) are involved in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) corneal infection. Here, SMAD2 is linked to corneal infection.