In conjunction with the determined TIMP-1 and CD74 expression patterns in monocytes, certain macrophage sub-types, and VSMCs, as derived from the analysis of scRNA-seq datasets of plaques from atherosclerosis patients, these results, furthermore, imply that the TIMP-1–CD74 axis may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Here, TIMP1 is linked to atherosclerosis.