NFKB1 and atherosclerosis: Riou et al. (2007) showed a direct link between hypertension and the development of atherosclerosis through the induction of NF-κB.43 Rather than affecting SMC proliferation, it has been suggested that NF-κB is involved in apoptotic and inflammatory signalling of vascular SMCs.44 Furthermore, NF-κB plays a crucial role in controlling vascular inflammation and NIH.45