In turn, inflammatory factors such as IL-1ß orCRP induce GDF-15 expression by regulating p53-binding sites in the GDF-15promoter and activating downstream NF-KB signaling [56], thereby accelerating theprogression of early-stage atherosclerosis and promoting the formation ofvulnerable plaques with the possible consequence of CAD. The gene discussed is GDF15; the disease is atherosclerosis.