SMAD3 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Our recent proteome analysis of NASH biopsies and HCCs of patients with metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) demonstrated coordinated activation of SMAD3-transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), β-catenin, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), sterol regulatory element-binding protein and liver X receptor α and nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 [4].