IRF8 and atherosclerosis: It has been demonstrated that restricted deletion in hemopoietic cells of IRF8, a specific transcription factor for the development of lymphoid CD8+cDCs and aortic CD103+DCs, led to reduced atherosclerosis via a severe suppression of T and B cell activities, although plasma cholesterol levels were increased (19), suggesting that lymphoid CD8+cDCs and aortic CD103+DCs can promote the development of atherosclerosis via activating adaptive components.