Similar to our observations, although systemic administration of γ-secretase inhibitor exhibited beneficial effect in atherosclerosis due to reduction in Notch activity in macrophages53, but inhibition of vascular Notch1 in absence of external stimuli was reported to aggravate leukocyte binding and over expression of pro-atherogenic molecules suggesting that reduction in the endothelial Notch1 is the predisposing factor for onset of vascular inflammation and initiation of atherosclerosis22. This evidence concerns the gene NOTCH1 and atherosclerosis.