PPARGC1A and atherosclerosis: Importantly, researchers further illustrated that overexpression of PGC-1α suppresses ROS generation, proliferation, and migration in VSMCs.417 The process by which monocytes differentiate into macrophages and macrophages recognize and take up highly ox-LDL particles, which can lead to foam cell formation, is considered one of the vicious points, finally causing atherosclerotic plaque.418 Notably, PGC-1α is localized to macrophage/foam cells in the murine aorta where its expression is increased when conjugated linoleic acid attenuates murine atherosclerosis.