Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) reside in normal arteries in a growth quiescent contractile state and respond to growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) or pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) which can arise from cellular and matrix trauma, infection, inflammation or platelet activation1. This evidence concerns the gene FGF2 and infection.