SMURF1 and Lassa fever: In the current study, we demonstrated that Smurf1 facilitates oxidative stress and fibrosis of ligamentum flavum by promoting Nrf2 ubiquitination and degradation, as evidenced by: (1) fibrosis and oxidative stress were upregulated in LF tissues from HLF patients; (2) Smurf1 was upregulated in LF tissues from HLF patients; (3) Smurf1 facilitated the fibrosis and oxidative stress of LF cells; (4) Smurf1 facilitated the fibrosis and oxidative stress of LF cells by facilitating the ubiquitination and degradation of Nrf2.