Furthermore, GDF15, in combination with oxLDL, positively regulates the expression of autophagy‐related proteins such as Atg5, p62 and the Atg12/Atg5 protein complex and elicits p62 accumulation in human macrophages, thus promoting lipid accumulation and, therefore, atherosclerosis development.86 This evidence concerns the gene ATG5 and atherosclerosis.