Ad-Smads2/3/4 infection significantly reduced the mRNA expression of adipose and hepatic lipogenic genes, including fatty acid synthase (FAS), sterol CoA desaturase 1, and sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1c, consistent with lower circulating free fatty acid levels, whereas Ad-Smad7 infection had the opposite effect in both tissues (Fig. 6a; Supplementary Fig. 3a). Here, SMAD7 is linked to infection.