In this study, we have found that PAD patients could be stratified into three groups based on the type on Notch signaling present in plaque material: a group characterized by high Jag1/Hey2/HeyL and low Dll4 (high-Jag1), a group characterized by high Dll4, low Jag1/Hey2/HeyL (high-Dll4) and a group with intermediate characteristics between the first two. This evidence concerns the gene DLL4 and peripheral arterial disease.