Using the model, the authors tested the influence of the anti‐angiogenic matricellular protein thrombspondin‐1 (TSP1), which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of PAD and can associate with cellular CD47 to disrupt VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling, on VEGF‐induced eNOS phosphorylation. The gene discussed is THBS1; the disease is peripheral arterial disease.