Likewise, reduced total cholesterol and HDL levels, as well as increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/vLDL, IL-6, sRANKL and CCL5 circulating levels mirroring RA patients was observed in the K/BxAg7 mice, a novel animal model of erosive arthritis followed by prominent aortic atherosclerosis. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is aortic atherosclerosis.