PLAUR and carotid atherosclerosis: Previous studies demonstrated an association of enhanced uPAR expression in atherosclerotic lesions with the severity of atherosclerosis[11] and with the frequency of plaque rupture in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.[12] In a mouse atherosclerosis model uPAR expression in macrophages is associated with lesion progression.[13] We could recently demonstrate that uPAR induces differentiation of mesenchymal stems cells into osteoblasts and thus promotes vascular calcification.[14] Another important contribution to the field comes from Farris and colleagues.