Macrophages and their metabolism are known to contribute to inflammation in the atherosclerotic plaques, but the underpinning molecular level regulatory processes are lesser known. Here authors show that under inflammatory conditions, macrophages express VCAM-1 within the atherosclerotic plaques, which leads to increased mitochondrial DNA synthesis via activation of the transcription factor C/EBPα, which in turn triggers inflammation by STING signalling.
- Niranjana Natarajan
- Jonathan Florentin
- Partha Dutta