The mitochondrial fusion proteins MFN1 and MFN2 maintain the mitochondrial network and protect endothelial cell function by initiating OMM fusion.Reduced expression of MFN1 and MFN2 leads to endothelial dysfunction and inhibition of VSMC proliferation, promoting the progression of atherosclerosis (Lugus et al., 2011; Forrester et al., 2020). The gene discussed is MFN2; the disease is atherosclerosis.