IGF1 and atherosclerosis: A complex role of IGF-1 and the IGF-1 axis has been suggested in atherosclerosis, as higher levels of IGF-1 can contribute to atherosclerotic plaque development in restenosis, while low levels of IGF-1 contributes to plaque destabilization41, 44, and its action is modulated by many other physiological parameters such as presence of insulin resistance or hypercholesterolemia.