SMAD2 and renal fibrosis: Moreover, EPO has been shown to upregulate miR-200 expression and attenuate hypoxia-induced EMT in HK-2 cells [43] as well as counteract TGF-β1-induced EMT by regulating TGF-β/Smad-2 signaling and inhibit renal fibrosis in UUO kidneys [15].