SLAMF8 and atherosclerosis: Among the most up-regulated genes verified with QRT-PCR in atherosclerotic plaque (Table 1), we found genes already previously connected to atherosclerosis, like matrix metalloproteinases [11], apolipoproteins [12] and osteopontin [13], but we also found new genes, not found to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, namely interleukin 4 induced 1 (IL4I1), interferon, gamma-inducible protein (IFI30), SLAM family member 8 (SLAMF8), and immunoglobulin J polypeptide (IGJ).