The neuronal transcription factor Pou4f1 has been identified as a Smad3 target gene in bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), implicating the TGF-β1/Smad3 axis in nociceptive signaling in chronic pancreatitis [141]. Here, SMAD3 is linked to chronic pancreatitis.