One difference between the apoER2 variant-specific difference in injury-induced neointima expansion and the lack of variant preference in atherosclerosis lesion sizes may be due to the importance of smooth muscle cell growth and endothelial repair after denudation injury in neointima formation, as well as its lesser role in diet-induced atherosclerosis, which is predominantly a lipid- and inflammation-driven cardiovascular disease caused by monocyte infiltration and foam cell formation in the vessel wall. This evidence concerns the gene LRP8 and atherosclerosis.