The raised inflammatory milieu driven by VSMCPCSK9-EVs was confirmed by the protein expression of phosphorylated form of STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) and SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling-3), two well-known cell signalling pathways involved in atherosclerosis [21]. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and atherosclerosis.