In blood vessel diseases compared with normal control, MerTK expression is 14.2 % (p = 0.0002) higher in carotid stenosis but significantly lower in coronary artery disease (CAD), CAD coupled to myocardial infarction or stable angina, Cohn's disease, intracranial aneurysm, and stable angina (Fig. 3A). Here, MERTK is linked to Dilatation of the cerebral artery.