HB-EGF/EGFR also reportedly promotes atherosclerosis by increasing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via upregulation of ERK1/2 and PI3K-Akt signaling [34] and contributes to myocardial hypertrophy by promoting fibroblast proliferation via the ERK1/2 pathway [12]. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and atherosclerosis.