Similar approach can be applied for assessing the release of basement membrane components (e.g., perlecan, nidogen-1, type IV collagen subunits, and laminin) and sub-endothelial extracellular matrix components (e.g., thrombospondin-1, von Willebrand factor, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 and 2), as ECs release them in considerable amounts both at baseline conditions and following the exposure to endothelial dysfunction triggers. The gene discussed is NID1; the disease is endothelial dysfunction.