SLC44A2 and aortic aneurysm: To delineate the function of SLC44A2 in VSMCs during aortic aneurysm, Apoe–/–TaglnCre/+ mice were intravenously injected with lentivirus carrying empty vector (Lenti-Vector) or SLC44A2 overexpression plasmid (Lenti-Slc44a2) containing 2 loxP sites that can be recognized by Cre recombinase in VSMCs, facilitating SLC44A2 transcription (Figure 3A).