APOE and atherosclerosis: The mice with induced atherosclerosis also showed significantly reduced heart function characterized by the increased peak velocity and mean gradient of the ascending aorta (Figure 4) and impaired kidney function with significantly increased levels of Cr and BUN in the sera and the total protein in urine (Figures 5B,C), indicating serious damage of cardiac and renal functions caused by atherosclerosis in the apoE–/– mice fed with HFD.