The level of IL-17 proteins (0.8 ± 0.1 vs 0.5 ± 0.06) was significantly higher, while the levels of IL-10 (0.5 ± 0.06 vs 0.8 ± 0.11) and TGF-β (0.5 ± 0.05 vs 1.1 ± 0.08) were significantly lower in the CE group than in controls (P < 0.05 respectively) (Fig. 3b). Here, IL17A is linked to cholesteryl ester measurement.