CD4 and atherosclerosis: In epidemiological studies, high plasma levels of HDL-C protect against the development of atherosclerosis.25 Besides HDL-C’s known ability to promote the efflux of cholesterol from cells in the arterial wall,26 and thereby maintaining cell cholesterol homeostasis, HDL-C is also antithrombotic,27 and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.28,29 Our HIV-infected participants had lower serum HDL-C levels and were 3.7 times more likely to have low HDL-C levels than their matched controls, while the lowest levels were seen in the nadir CD4 cell count group.