On the other hand, depletion of CD103+DCs in Flt3−/−Ldlr−/− mice led to heavier plaque burden, decreased aortic Treg numbers, limited interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion, increased production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) without significant alterations in lipid levels (16), indicating an immunosuppressive role for this DC subset in atherosclerosis. Here, TNF is linked to atherosclerosis.