Evidence from the literature supports this idea, since a secreted or released factor from T. cruzi is capable of repressing connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) / cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2) expression in response to TGF-β in dermal fibroblasts, an effect also observed in the down-regulation of fibrogenic genes after infection [43]. Here, TGFB1 is linked to infection.