The activation of the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway in HSCs resulted in the upregulation of several key genes associated with hepatic fibrosis, including TIMP1, SMAD2, SMAD3, COL1A1, and MMP2, as well as increased secretion of MMP-9 protein (Figure 2). The gene discussed is SMAD3; the disease is Hepatic fibrosis.