As shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. S9, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and western blot analysis revealed that treatment with Smad7 in the established chronic AAN over days 14-42 abolished AA-induced activation of TGF-β/Smad and NF-κB/p65 signaling. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and Balkan nephropathy.