Consistent with K-means cluster analysis, genes upregulated by loss of Brn-3b were also implicated in pathways that can indirectly affect vascular function including circadian rhythm and entrainment, (68 genes; NES + 1.64); immune function (56 genes; NES + 1.48 that included IL-17 signalling, cytokine receptor interaction, haematopoietic cell lineage), and metabolic diseases (type II diabetes mellitus) (34 genes; NES + 1.45), (Table 1a and Supplementary Table 2a). This evidence concerns the gene IL17A and metabolic disease.