Interleukin 6 destabilizes atherosclerotic plaques by downregulating prolyl-4-hydroxylase α1 via a mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun pathway

► IL-6 destabilized atherosclerotic plaques in mice. ► IL-6 significantly downregulated P4Hα1 expression in HASMCs. ► IL-6 can activate the RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway. ► c-Jun mediated IL-6-induced P4Hα1 downregulation.