Together with the observation that CD36 knockdown rescues endothelial Kir2.1 function, an effect we previously showed is sufficient to restore endothelial function in obesity (11), our next goal was to determine the role of CD36 in obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction in arteries located in VAT using a well-established mouse model of diet-induced obesity. The gene discussed is KCNJ2; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.