IL6 and atherosclerosis: For instance, SASP factors like interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) promote chronic inflammation, extracellular matrix degradation, and fibroblast activation, contributing to conditions such as osteoarthritis, pulmonary fibrosis, and atherosclerosis (Li X. et al., 2023; Victorelli et al., 2023; Kandhaya-Pillai et al., 2022; Li et al., 2024a).