Furthermore, the metabolic profiles fulfilled with LC-MS/MS also revealed that 1-Cys peroxiredoxin (1-cyc prx), a novel antioxidant conferring protection against oxidative membrane damage, was predominantly present as reduced protein in apolipoprotein E+/+ vessels but is oxidized in apolipoprotein E-/- vessels[22], indicating that increased oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis in this model. This evidence concerns the gene APOE and atherosclerosis.