TGFB1 and sarcoidosis: Statistically significant differences between patients and controls were observed for TGF-β1 (P = 0.03, U Mann- Whitney test), Smad 2 (P = 0.01, U Mann–Whitney test) and for VEGF-A (P = 0.0002, U Mann–Whitney test), with higher immunoexpression levels in sarcoidosis patients (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3).