SUMO1 and coronary artery disorder: To determine whether the role of SRF SUMOylation in VSMC phenotypic switch observed in mouse vascular injury models translates to human CVD, we examined SUMO1, SRF, p-ELK, OPN, and α-SMA in the left main coronary arteries of patients with no/mild (grade I plaque), moderate (grade II plaque), or severe coronary artery disease (CAD) (grade III and IV plaque) (Fig.6A).