Although these studies support a proatherogenic role of pDCs, other studies testing strategies blocking specific pDC markers, such as the inhibition of PDCA-1 or BDCA2 in Ldlr–/– mice, reported a worsening of the atherosclerosis, with plaques characterized by a more unstable phenotype and increased T cell accumulation (49, 50). This evidence concerns the gene LDLR and atherosclerosis.