Using transcriptomics, histopathological and western blot analyses, the liver fibrosis markers previously found after 24 weeks on this diet include a significant upregulation of pathways/genes related to fibrogenesis and ECM remodelling (Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1, Col4a1, Col4a2, Timp1 and Serpine1), TGFβ (Tgfb1, Tgfb2, Tgfb3, Tgfbr1 and Tgfbr2) and SMAD signalling (SMAD2 Ser465/467 phosphorylation), as well as perisinusoidal and portal fibrosis12,32–34. Here, SMAD2 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.