Similarly, this regulatory CD8+ subset in the spleen of apoE−/− mice was found to have surface markers and functions of suppressor cells, whereas adoptive transfer of CD8+CD25+ T cells alleviated atherosclerotic lesions and suppressed CD4+ T cell proliferation and differentiation toward a pathogenic subset (146), indicating that CD8+CD25+T cells contributed to the suppression of the disease in experimental atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and atherosclerosis.