NKX2-5 and atherosclerosis: Compromised endothelial function is a hallmark of early atherosclerosis, and the leukocyte‐endothelium interaction constitutes a key cellular event in the initiation of the disease.43 Although we failed to detect Nkx2‐5 expression in the endothelium of atherosclerotic plaques, Nkx2‐5 gene transfer clearly ameliorated atherosclerosis at an early stage.