SMAD7 and glomerulosclerosis: Similarly, Chai Huang Yi Shen granules significantly inhibited RF, 24-h proteinuria, the glomerulosclerosis index, and the tubulointerstitial fibrosis index and upregulated the expression of collagen I/IV and fibronectin through inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling (evidenced by the upregulation of Smad7 and the downregulation of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 receptor, and Smad3).