In hepatitis C virus infection, lncRNA-ATB is activated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and competes with miR-425-5p, upregulating the TGF-β type II receptor (TGF-βRII) and SMAD family member 2 (SMAD2), promoting liver fibrosis [65]. This evidence concerns the gene SMAD2 and hepatitis C virus infection.