SMAD2 and atherosclerosis: In addition to the action of the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway on the expression of miR-29a which is involved in a number of processes related to vascular abnormalities present in atherosclerosis such as proliferation and migration of VSMCs, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and ECM remodeling and angiogenesis, recent studies have also shown a close link between increased miR-29a expression and oxidized LDL levels.