We observed the colocalization of AIBP and macrophages (Fig. 1A), while smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells were not colocalized with AIBP (Additional file 1: Fig. S1A), indicating that intracellular AIBP may regulate macrophage function and the progression of atherosclerosis in addition to functioning as a secretory protein. The gene discussed is NAXE; the disease is atherosclerosis.