TGFB1 and acute kidney injury: By constructing mice expressing TGF-β specific receptor 1 in renal tubular epithelial cells, the researchers detected macrophages, dendritic cells, monocytes and T cells infiltration and tubular damage after stimulating the activation of TGF-β signaling pathway, confirming that renal TGF-β signaling in TECs is sufficient to induce renal tissue inflammation and lead to AKI (39).