Next, we wanted to determine the biological relevance of cell-specific RIPK3 in atherosclerosis, so we conditionally deleted Ripk3 in macrophages (Ripk3ΔMΦ-Cre), smooth muscle cells (Ripk3ΔSMC-Cre), endothelial cells (Ripk3ΔEC-Cre) and globally (Ripk3ΔGlobal) on the Apoe−/− background using Cre-lox technology and LysM (Lyz2)-Cre, SM22 (Tagln)-Cre, VE-Cadherin (Cdh5)-Cre and germline excision, respectively. The gene discussed is APOE; the disease is atherosclerosis.