EIF2AK3 and atherosclerosis: A study by Martin et al. (2005) showed that inhibition of GSK-3α remarkably reduces ER stress-induced free cholesterol levels and inhibits the expression of genes that regulate lipid and cholesterol metabolism, including fatty acid synthase, sterol element-binding protein-1 C (SREBP-1C), etc. Therefore, ER stress and PERK signal could trigger lipid metabolism which leads to atherosclerosis.