This is surprising given that our previous work using pharmacological agents and knockdown approaches showed that ERK1/2 was required for the IFN‐γ‐mediated activation of STAT1 S727 phosphorylation, the expression of key genes implicated in atherosclerosis, and the uptake of modified lipoproteins by human macrophages.13 This evidence concerns the gene STAT1 and atherosclerosis.