Previous studies demonstrated that the expression levels of several neighbor protein-encoding genes like cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors 2A (CDKN2A), CDKN2B and methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) are modulated by ANRIL. It was shown that the above-mentioned proteins were abundantly expressed in atherosclerotic lesions, and they could promote atherosclerosis by impacting vascular remodeling, thrombogenesis and plaque stability [8]. This evidence concerns the gene MTAP and atherosclerosis.