PTEN and renal fibrosis: In addition, it has been reported that miR-21 regulates adipogenic differentiation through the modulation of TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor Beta) signalling and promotes renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy by targeting PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog) and SMAD7 (Mothers Against Decapentaplegic Homolog 7) [109].