In contrast, VSMCs and their progeny can be identified in mouse atherosclerosis by Cre-Lox mediated induction of reporter expression specifically in smooth muscle cells, for example in Myh11-CreERt2/Rosa26-Confetti mice; flow cytometric sorting of isolated confetti+ cells followed by single cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) can then quantify mRNA expression specifically in VSMCs.14,22 Normal healthy aortas of Myh11-CreERt2/Rosa26-Confetti mice showed cell clusters corresponding to VSMCs (Myh11+), adventitial cells (Pdgfra+) or endothelial cells (Cdh5+) (Figure 2A). Here, PDGFRA is linked to atherosclerosis.