- CCDC3 deficiency increases atherosclerosis and thrombus formation in ApoE KO mice (Kobayashi et al., 2022)- CCDC3 deficiency decreases flux through the MEF2C/KLF2 pathway, which normally protects against atherosclerosis (Kobayashi et al., 2022). The gene discussed is MEF2C; the disease is atherosclerosis.