Thus, during the early stage of atherosclerosis, neointimal hyperplasia is promoted by a reduction in signalling through the SEMA3E‐PLXND1 axis, while during the late stage of atherosclerosis, the directional migration of macrophages is inhibited by the SEMA3E‐PLXND1 signalling axis. The gene discussed is SEMA3E; the disease is atherosclerosis.