Accordingly, large plaques with an inflammatory phenotype were observed in the aortic root from both ApoE−/− Gsdmd−/− and ApoE−/− Gsdmd+/+ mice, possibly because after 16 weeks WD plaques in the aortic root are in a more advanced stage compared to plaques in the brachiocephalic artery. The gene discussed is GSDMD; the disease is Wilson disease.