We compared the two groups with/without ILT to assess whether the presence of ILT influenced adventitial VV arteriosclerosis or the expression of other molecules such as HIF-1α, Heme B, MMP-9, etc. However, no differences were observed between these two groups, indicating that changes in adventitial VV occurred irrespective of the presence of ILT (data not shown). This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and arteriosclerosis.