In the abovementioned study using a mouse model of diabetes, a high level of activation of the TGF-Beta1/Smad3 pathway with high levels of TGF-Beta1 expression and Smad1, Smad2, Smad3 proteins as well as high levels of type I and III collagen in the myocardium of the diabetic mice were confirmed [64]. Here, SMAD3 is linked to diabetes mellitus.