To verify whether hepatic ATF3 primarily contributed to the progression of atherosclerosis in Apoe−/− mice under ADF intervention, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) for expression of mouse Atf3 under the control of a thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) promoter (AAV8-TBG-ATF3) was intravenously (i.v.)injected into ADF Apoe−/− mice fed with WD. The gene discussed is APOE; the disease is atherosclerosis.