SMAD2 and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: Considerable increase in the levels of TGF-β was observed in individuals experiencing ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), showing that TGF-β levels correlate with phosphorylated Smad2, along with collagen types I and III, triggering further myocardial fibrotic events in ICM and DCM secondary to activation of TGF-β (41).