SMAD3 and liver dysplastic nodule: Similarly, exosomes circ_0125310, circ_TAOK1 and circ_DLGAP4 up-regulated IGF1R, SMAD3 and expressed ERBB3 through sponge adsorption of miR-422a, miR-520h and miR-143, respectively, where circ_0125310/miR-422a/IGF1R axis activation in turn up-regulated its downstream p38 signaling pathway, whereas activation of the circ_DLGAP4/miR-143/ERBB3 axis up-regulated the NF-κB/MMP-2 pathway, both of which contributed to fibrosis via the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, thereby exacerbating DN progression (Figure 7, Table 4).