AIF1 and atherosclerosis: In addition to AIF1-expressing macrophages, VSMCs also express AIF1 in atherosclerotic plaques from ApoE -/- mice, and VSMCs overexpressing AIF1 upregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 and increased NF-κB pathway activation and uptake of ox-LDL; therefore, VSMCs act similarly to macrophages in atherosclerosis [155].