APOE and atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis was increased in the descending aorta and aortic root in OGG1−/− ApoE−/− mice compared with controls (Figure 6A and 6B) but markedly decreased in both vascular beds in SM22α-OGG1 ApoE−/− mice; this protective effect was lost in SM22α-OGG1K-R ApoE−/− mice.