We previously demonstrated that induction of the pluripotency-associated transcription factor, Kruppel-like factor 4 (Klf4), is essential for SMC reprogramming to AdvSca1-SM cells (25), and others have shown that Klf4 induction is essential for SMC transitions in the setting of atherosclerotic lesion progression (23) and cancer progression (26). Here, KLF4 is linked to Atherosclerotic lesion.