TGF-β is a crucial regulator of EMT that mediates many pathological CKD-associated processes14, 21 and causes tubular epithelial cells to begin to express vimentin (a fibroblast marker) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, a myofibroblast marker)17, 22, 23. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and chronic kidney disease.