proposed that TGF-β-1-mediated Smad3 activation in renal fibroblasts enhances LRG1 (leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein-1) expression, leading to epithelial injury and amplification of TGF-β signaling through autocrine and paracrine modalities, promoting renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN (50). Here, TGFB1 is linked to liver dysplastic nodule.