LRP1 and atherosclerosis: The use of mice deficient in SMC LRP (LRPsmc−∕−) associated with LDLR knockout (LDLR−∕−) resulted in a severe vSMC proliferation within the aorta, disruption of elastic laminae, and enhancement of atherosclerosis, suggesting that vSMC LRP plays an important atheroprotective role via clearance capacities not limited to LDL endocytosis alone (Boucher et al., 2003).