Periostin promotes lipid accumulation in macrophages via NF-κB activation

Gao et al. observed that treatment of THP-1 macrophages with angiotensin II significantly decreased ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux and increased lipid accumulation via induction of periostin, whereas knockdown of periostin abolished these effects [1]. This finding demonstrates the harmful role of periostin in macrophage lipid deposition, whereas the underlying mechanisms need further exploration.