AGEs can induce the apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by activating RAGE. Dysregulation of the AGEs/RAGE axis in EPCs may promote atherosclerosis and the NADPH/ROS/JNK signalling axis may serve as a potential target of the clinical treatment of atherosclerosis 51, 52. Here, MAPK8 is linked to atherosclerosis.