SMAD2 and Hypertension: In other cardiac diseases (such as hypertension), globalized fibrosis is likely a primary contributor to the progression of congestive heart failure.63 It is well known that TGF-β1 is expressed in the heart64 and that, following MI, the levels of TGF-β1 are increased in the scar area.7 Here, we show that indicators of autophagic induction (i.e., LC3β II, Atg5-12 conjugation, fibronectin synthesis and Smad2 phosphorylation) are increased in lysates of cardiac scar tissue at 2 and 4 weeks post-MI, as compared with sham-operated heart tissues.