IL-27 is a member of the IL-12 family of cytokines that, in contrast to IL-12 and IL-18, limits the intensity and duration of T cell responses (Hunter & Kastelein, 2012), and limits atherosclerosis in animal models of atherosclerosis (Hirase et al., 2013; Koltsova et al., 2012). This evidence concerns the gene IL18 and atherosclerosis.