Over-expression of CANP1 enhanced the migratory ability of young VSMC by 1.5-fold (p<0.05), up to the level of the GFP infected old VSMC (Fig. 7C). Overexpression of calpastatin reduced the migratory capability of old cells, to the level of young cells infected with GFP alone (Fig. 7C). Further, the increased chemotaxis induced by CANP1 infection in both young and old cells was substantially reduced by GM6001, an MMP inhibitor (Fig. 7D). In addition, GM6001 substantially inhibited the migration of old cells (Fig. 7D). Here, CAST is linked to infection.