Studies on CX3CR1 null mice, crossed into apoE −/− background [12], demonstrated that, although CX3CL1 was strongly expressed in smooth muscle cells in the lesion, the lack of the CX3CR1 receptor was related to a significant reduction in macrophages and T cells recruitment within the vessel wall, associated with a reduction of atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene CX3CL1 and atherosclerosis.