Atherosclerosis occurs in arterial regions with disturbed blood flow, where endothelial cells are exposed to stress, thus activating proatherogenic signals that promote endothelial dysfunction and reprogramming, among others. Researchers have identified heart development protein with EGF like domains 1 (HEG1) as a flow-sensitive gene in murine artery endothelial cells.

Modulation of a single amino acid in the reprogramming factor Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has been demonstrated to markedly improve natural transcription factor function and to result in faster and more effective reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells.