APOE and atherosclerosis: Akita mice cross-bred to ApoE−/− [24] and LDLR−/− [25, 26] backgrounds have 2-3-fold increased atherosclerosis and enhanced accumulation of macrophages and T-cells in plaques when compared to nondiabetic control mice, as well as concomitant increases in non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.