ITGB3 and atherosclerosis: Based on these results with global Itgb3 null mice, as well as a previous study demonstrating that transplant of Itgb3(−/−) bone marrow into Itgb3(+/+) atheroprone mice worsens atherosclerosis in high fat fed mice17, we postulated that Itgb3(−/−) bone marrow-derived cells induce multiple SMCs to migrate into the plaque.