ITIH4 and endothelial dysfunction: Soluble HIV gp120 has been reported to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells of coronary vessels via the co-receptor CXCR4, induce endothelial permeability leading to endothelial dysfunction and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in endothelial cells (Fiala et al., 2004; Yang et al., 2009).