Importantly, endoMT, such as SMC phenotypic switching, is not a one-way transition but rather based on stimulus and causes ECs to transition toward either a more athero-protective phenotype (that is, an ACTA2+ phenotype) or a atherosclerosis-prone migratory phenotype (that is, an FN1+ phenotype)39. The gene discussed is ACTA2; the disease is atherosclerosis.