In addition, genes constituting a major portion of the vascular extracellular matrix were significantly up-regulated in advanced lesions, including COL1A1, COL3A1, COL1A2, COL5A1, COL6A1, COL6A3 and LAMB1, suggesting that these genes could be involved in the femoral artery occlusion in PAD. This evidence concerns the gene COL3A1 and peripheral arterial disease.