Investigators also identified a novel miRNA (miRNA-33) derived from theS. japonicum egg-released EVs that upregulated the expression levels of α-SMA and COL1α1 in liver tissues and caused hepatic fibrosis in the host through the TGF-β/small mother against decapentaplegic family member 3 (SMAD3) signaling pathway, suggesting that inhibiting the expression of this miRNA may alleviate the degree of fibrosis[53]. Here, SMAD3 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.