Western blot demonstrated that the expression of CD248, α-SMA, collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, TGF-β1, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, and Smad4 in the kidney tissue of DN group mice was significantly higher than in the control group; however, treatment with VER or NBIF significantly reduced the expression of these proteins in db/db mice (Figs. 9E-H). This evidence concerns the gene SMAD3 and liver dysplastic nodule.