Examining the KD-trait correlations in HMDP showed many of these KDs are positively correlated (e.g. Dock2, Irf8, and Zap70) or negatively correlated (e.g. Utrn) with aortic lesion area in the atherosclerosis HMDP aorta tissue, or positively (e.g. Ifi44, Irf7, Mx1, Nnmt, and Rtp4) or negatively (e.g. Acadm and Ets2) correlated with aortic lesion area in the atherosclerosis HMDP liver (Supplementary file 1D, E). Here, IRF8 is linked to atherosclerosis.