IFNA1 and atherosclerosis: In addition to the immune effects of Type I IFNs in this model, administration of Ad-IFNα has a detrimental effect on the vasculature, causing impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, a decrease in maturation of endothelial progenitor cells into mature endothelial cells, increased platelet activation, and accelerated thrombus formation, suggesting a potential role for IFN in the accelerated atherosclerosis associated with SLE (40).