Vimentin deficiency inhibits the development of atherosclerotic plaques in mouse models of atherosclerosis, this inhibition is attributed in part to an enhanced capacity of mouse peritoneal macrophages to internalize oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), which diminishes the formation of foam cells, a pivotal early stage in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis [33]. This evidence concerns the gene VIM and atherosclerosis.