An important finding of the present study is that in vivo concomitant inhibition of SIRT1 and AMPK is implicated in aortic atherosclerosis, since expression and activity of SIRT1 as well as phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream targets ACC and SREBP-1 are remarkably suppressed in atherosclerotic pig aorta. This evidence concerns the gene SIRT1 and aortic atherosclerosis.