Finally, in order to truly assess the cell‐autonomous role of NF‐κB in SMCs in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, it will be important to cross mice with SMC‐specific inhibition of the NF‐κB pathway to the LDLR−/− or ApoE−/− mouse models of atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene NFKB1 and atherosclerosis.