After cell labeling, AdvSca1-SM lineage mice were injected with a gain-of-function mutant PCSK9-AAV to knock down LDL receptors and were placed on a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 8–28 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic plaque formation, as previously described (Figure 1A and Supplemental Figure 2; supplemental material available online with this article; https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.174639DS1) (17, 18). This evidence concerns the gene PCSK9 and familial hypercholesterolemia.