KLRD1 and atherosclerosis: NK cells play an immunoregulatory role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.111 CD160, a unique activating NK cell receptor, can mediate cytolytic responses and production of cytokines.112 Symptomatic plaques of carotid atherosclerosis are associated with increased NK cell infiltration and higher levels of serum NK-activating receptor ligands.113 However, there is still no consensus on whether the role of NK cells in atherosclerosis is related to their cytolytic activity or rather to cytokine secretion.