Almost similar findings were observed in the established atherosclerosis group (B2), where T3–4 mg/kg showed a reduction in aortic tissue expression of ICAM-1 (29.9±2.4% vs. 55.3±1.3%; **p=0.008), E-selectin (26.7±1.5% vs. 60.5±7.6%; **p=0.008), IL-6 (15.7±0.7% vs. 27.7±4.8%; **p=0.008), MMP-12 (34.8±2.7% vs. 46.5±3.4%; **p=0.008) and MMP-9 (25.9±3.9% vs. 45.9±1.7%; **p=0.008) compared to T3-negative rabbits group (Fig. 3). Here, MMP12 is linked to atherosclerosis.