Further, the immunohistochemical analysis of the liver highlighted that pSmad2 (a downstream of TGF-β1-signaling) and Gal-3 were significantly upregulated with P.g.-odontogenic infection, indicating these are key molecules for liver fibrosis induced by P.g.-odontogenic infection16,20. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is Hepatic fibrosis.