CGAS and atherosclerosis: Additionally, research into the progression of atherosclerosis demonstrated that trans-responsive DNA-binding protein ~ 43 kDa expression was upregulated in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-treated macrophages which mediated the release of mtDNA and promoted the activation of cGAS-STING-NF-κB signaling (Huangfu et al. 2021).