This antibody has been used to determine that atherosclerotic lesions in the human aorta contain considerable amounts of lipoproteins. These lipoproteins were observed to be complexed with components of the extracellular matrix (especially LDL and proteoglycans). The role of these matrix-lipoprotein complexes is not entirely clear, however, animal models of atherosclerosis have shown that increased cellular proliferation and increased production of extracellular matrix components occur following injury to the intimal layer of the aorta.