TGFB1 and cardiac hypertrophy: Ang II couples to its receptors, activates Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) and its downstream signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, and TGF-β/Smad pathways, and subsequently promotes hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction (Mehta and Griendling, 2007).