Moreover, IKK2 ablation in macrophages (using Mx1-Cre) diminished the survival of TLR4-activated macrophages36,37 and increased the severity of atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice (using LysM-Cre)38, due to reduced IKK2-mediated NF-kB pathway activation. Here, IKBKB is linked to atherosclerosis.