CD8A and atherosclerosis: In contrast CD8+ T cells were found to comprise up to 50% of the lymphocyte population in advanced human atherosclerotic lesions [11] and Apoe−/− mice expressing β-galactosidase (β-gal) in aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) developed CD8+ T cell driven arteritis and atherosclerosis upon immunization with β-gal specific dendritic cells (DC) [12].