MBL2 and transient ischemic attack: This study demonstrates the potential use of LP components as markers for cardiovascular risk in atherosclerotic patients showing that: (1) ficolins and MBL, initiators of the LP activation, are present within the lipid core and the tunica media of atherosclerotic plaques; (2) plasma levels of ficolin-2 are decreased in patients with vulnerable plaques and those of ficolin-1 are decreased in symptomatic (vs. non-symptomatic) patients experiencing a transient ischemic attack; (3) the LP activity driven by MBL is increased in plasma of patients with vulnerable plaques.