As circulating monocytes have been shown to be involved in the development of atherosclerotic lesions by invading the intima and undergoing transformation into foam cells, we further tested whether the expression of caspase-4, the gene in humans homologous to mouse caspase-11, is altered in circulating monocytes in patients with coronary angiogram (CAG)- confirmed coronary heart disease (CHD). Here, CASP4 is linked to coronary artery disorder.