MiR-143-5p exemplified this multifunctionality, with reported roles in diabetic retinopathy (via angiogenesis modulation) [25], idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (through TGF-β/Smad3 signaling) [26], and gastric cancer metastasis (by cytoskeletal remodeling) [27]. The gene discussed is SMAD3; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.