CD40LG and atherosclerosis: However, it should be noted that spleen-associated immune activity protects against atherosclerosis (Emtiazy et al., 2013, Lammers et al., 2012, Rezende et al., 2011), and removal of the spleen, which results in accelerated atherosclerosis, has been shown to deplete B1a cells from the peritoneum, followed by a strong decrease in plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) M titers (Kyaw et al., 2011, Wardemann et al., 2002).