The incretin hormone GIP is upregulated in patients with atherosclerosis and stabilizes plaques in ApoE−/− mice by blocking monocyte/macrophage activation

Elevated concentrations of the incretin hormone GIP are found in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, while GIP treatment attenuates atherosclerotic plaque inflammation in mice and abrogates inflammatory macrophage activation in vitro. These observations identified GIP as a counterregulatory vasoprotective peptide, which might open new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of patients with high cardiovascular risk.