These findings positively correlate with the elevated expression levels of dimeric TGF-β1 (e.g., the 25-kDa band) that we have observed at 2 and 4 weeks post-MI versus non-infarcted control and sham-operated left ventricular muscle.40 However, we found no evidence of Smad2 phosphorylation or changes in the levels of autophagy markers and fibronectin synthesis at 24 or 48 h or at 8 weeks post-MI (Figures 3a and c). Here, SMAD2 is linked to myocardial infarction.