Among the 49 downregulated proteins (Log2FC < -0.5), COL11A1, C2, ACTR10, COL1A1, TFRC, XDH, CNN1, DIAPH1, IDH1, CYB5R3, and LMOD1 (Fig. 4G and Additional file 1, Table S4) were associated with vascular inflammation and/or atherosclerosis, as identified by a Pubmed search. This evidence concerns the gene XDH and inflammatory response.