Furthermore, TGF-β1/SMAD3 pathway can lead to the induction of Beclin-1, which plays a critical role in the nucleation of the autophagy process (Gordy and He, 2012; Li et al., 2016), contributing indigestion of lipid droplets and supplies energy for the promotion of HSCs, thereby developing liver fibrosis (Hernández-Gea et al., 2012). Here, SMAD3 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.