The pMAA antigen-based ELISA, using BSA chemically conjugated to purified MAA adducts, has not only proven to be more sensitive and specific than the crude MAA antigen-based ELISA that is currently in use but has also been able to detect markedly increased anti-MAA antibody titers in the serum of ApoE-/- mice at a very early stage of atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene NAA10 and atherosclerosis.