Interestingly, mice with experimental crescentic GN, which had increased levels of latent, but not active, TGF-β1 in plasma and kidney tissue, and upregulation of renal Smad7 in keratinocytes, preserved renal function and were protected against renal fibrosis.35 Likewise, a recent study showed that it is possible to dissociate the fibrotic effect of TGF-β1 from its anti-inflammatory effect, by preventing the cross-talk interaction with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.36 Here, SMAD7 is linked to renal fibrosis.