By over-expressing hsa_circ_0004104 in THP-1-derived macrophages, it was revealed that atherosclerotic susceptibility genes, such as IDO1, MMP8, and CD40, were up-regulated, and anti-atherosclerotic genes, such as ApoA I, RNASE1, were down-regulated, indicating that hsa_circ_0004104 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis 35. Here, MMP8 is linked to atherosclerosis.