TGFB1 and renal fibrosis: Our results showed that after TGF-β1 stimulation, the expression of LC3 II/I and Beclin 1 in the NRK-52E cells decreased, and the protein level of mTOR increased, indicating that autophagy was inhibited in the process of renal fibrosis, which was also confirmed by the increased expression of autophagy substrate p62.