['Endoplasmic reticulum stress increases macrophage apoptosis, contributing to the complications of atherosclerosis. Insulin-resistant macrophages are more susceptible to endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated apoptosis probably contributing to macrophage death and necrotic core formation in atherosclerotic plaques in type 2 diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms of increased apoptosis in insulin-resistant macrophages remain unclear.', 'The studies were performed in insulin-resistant macrophages isolated from insulin receptor knockout or ob/ob mice. Gain- or loss-of-function approaches were used to evaluate the roles of forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs) in endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated macrophage apoptosis.', 'Insulin-resistant macrophages showed attenuated Akt activation and increased nuclear localization of FoxO1 during endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by free cholesterol loading. Overexpression of active FoxO1 or FoxO3 failed to induce apoptosis in unchallenged macrophages but exacerbated apoptosis in macrophages with an active endoplasmic reticulum stress response. Conversely, macrophages with genetic knockouts of FoxO1, -3, and -4 were resistant to apoptosis in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress. FoxO1 was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation and promoter expression analysis to induce inhibitor of kappaBepsilon gene expression and thereby to attenuate the increase of nuclear p65 and nuclear factor-kappaB activity during endoplasmic reticulum stress, with proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory consequences.'] Do forkhead transcription factors ( FoxOs ) promote apoptosis of insulin-resistant macrophages during cholesterol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress?