Background and aims Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) migrate and proliferate to form
a stabilizing fibrous cap that encapsulates atherosclerotic plaques. CD98 is a
transmembrane protein made of two subunits, CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) and one of six
light chains, and is known to be involved in cell proliferation and survival. Because the
influence of CD98hc on atherosclerosis development is unknown, our aim was to determine
if CD98hc expressed on VSMC plays a role in shaping the morphology of atherosclerotic …