(3) Basal VCAM-1 protein expression in retinal vessels was higher in hyperlipidemic ApoE−/− than in normolipidemic wt mice and both VCAM-1 mRNA and protein levels were further increased by high fat diet, probably driven by changes in plasma cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, but not in triglycerides; (4) Diabetes had no effects on VCAM-1 protein expression or on plasma sVCAM-1 levels in ApoE−/− mice, but it increased ICAM-1 mRNA expression in retinal vessels, apparently driven by changes in plasma triglycerides independently of plasma cholesterol. This evidence concerns the gene ICAM1 and diabetes mellitus.