APOE and atherosclerosis: Given the above-mentioned controversial views about the contribution of the immune system to atherogenesis and T cell specific abrogation of TGF-ß signalling in murine atherosclerosis; and since macrophages represent the hallmark of both human and murine atherosclerotic lesions, the present study was aimed to specify the role of TGF-ß in atherogenesis by transgenetical overexpressing of an active form of the cytokine in atherosclerotic lesions of ApoE knockout mice using a strong macrophage-specific promoter.