Although further pharmacological studies are needed to identify specific receptors and signalling involved in the therapeutic action of cortistatin in atherosclerosis, previous reports suggested the capacity of cortistatin to bind to two different types of receptors, i.e., ghrelin-receptor and somatostatin-receptors, supporting the higher therapeutic effect observed for cortistatin in comparison to somatostatin or ghrelin in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, vascular remodelling or pain8, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 39. Here, SST is linked to atherosclerosis.