ACAT1 and atherosclerosis: It has previously been reported that salusin-β accelerates the development of atherosclerosis by up-regulation of scavenger receptors and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT1) and by increasing foam cell formation and that salusin-α exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by decreasing serum total cholesterol levels and by suppressing ACAT1 expression and foam cell formation [6], [8].