To assess whether miR-146a deficiency restricted to the hematopoietic compartment affects atherosclerosis, Ldlr-/- mice (CD45.1 background) were transplanted with BM from miR-146a-/- (BM miR-146a-/-) or wt (BM wt) mice (both CD45.2 background) (Fig 1A). This evidence concerns the gene LDLR and atherosclerosis.