SVEP1 and atherosclerosis: Based on the known interaction between SVEP1 and integrin α9β1 along with the expression of integrin α9β1 by VSMCs and myeloid cells including monocytes and macrophages, we asked if integrin α9β1 was responsible for mediating either the cell autonomous or cell non-autonomous effects of SVEP1 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis [21].