CDK9 and atherosclerosis: The inflammatory response and phenotypic transition of VSMCs were revealed in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice co-localized with atherosclerotic lesions and accompanied by elevated serum CDK9, and CDK9 knockdown reversed the ox-LDL-induced inflammatory response and phenotypic transition of VSMCs from contractile to synthesis phenotype by hindering the NF-κB pathway [40].