OGG1 and atherosclerosis: Loss of OGG1 also increases oxidized mitochondrial DNA, inflammasome activation, and apoptosis in macrophages.8 However, the profound reduction in plaque formation in SM22α-OGG1 compared with control mice demonstrates that endogenous levels of 8oxoG found in VSMCs in atherosclerosis promote plaque development and emphasizes the importance of oxidative DNA damage–mediated activation of cell death and senescence in VSMCs and of VSMC-driven inflammation in atherogenesis.