It therefore can be hypothesized that TCF7L2 may influence the development of atherosclerosis i) by direct regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation and ii) by turning on nuclear factor-kappaB pathway either directly through the Wnt signalling pathway, or indirectly through increased blood glucose levels (via impairment of beta cell function), or both, directly and indirectly. This evidence concerns the gene TCF7L2 and atherosclerosis.