It is now clear that Smad7 is an integrated inhibitor not only for inhibiting TGF-β/Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis by competing with the R-Smad binding to the TβRI 24 but also for suppressing IκBα ng NF-κB-driven renal inflammation by inducing, an NF-κB inhibitor 25,26. Here, SMAD7 is linked to renal fibrosis.