SMN1 and atherosclerosis: The fact that production of VCAM-1 correlated with more severe vascular lesions, e.g. increased arterial narrowing or more carotid plaques in the presence of abundant SMA-positive cells and collagen fibers in the intima layer, supports the role of VCAM-1 as a major marker of atherosclerosis, and that it is also necessary for neointima formation due to SMC migration [29, 30].