Recently, numerous studies suggested that IL-22 promotes atherosclerosis through multiple mechanisms including promotion of inflammation, regulation of cholesterol metabolism, and induction of VSMC proliferation and migration (Rattik et al. 2015; Chellan et al. 2014), indicating this cytokine as a promising and novel target to treat or prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The gene discussed is IL22; the disease is atherosclerosis.