Odorant receptors in macrophages: potential targets for atherosclerosis

In a recent report, Orecchioni et al. identify a role for the olfactory receptor (OR) Olfr2 and its human ortholog OR6A2 in atherosclerosis. Vascular macrophage Olfr2 binds octanal, a product of lipid peroxidation, activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β secretion, and driving atherosclerosis pathology. Thus, OR6A2 inhibitors may represent a promising therapy for atherosclerosis.