APOE and atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E-null (Apoe−/−) mice placed on a high cholesterol high fat diet (HCD; 0.2% cholesterol; 60% kcal of fat) for 16 weeks showed a significant increase in serum Dj-1 levels compared to Apoe−/− mice on normal chow diet (NCD) (0.02% cholesterol; 17% kcal of fat) (Fig. 1a).