The expansion of highly cytotoxic CX3CR1 expressing IL‐7Rαlow EM CD8+ T cells may have an implication in HIV‐infected individuals with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease despite ART as these cells can migrate to vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells through the interaction of CX3CR1 and its ligand, CX3CL1 (fractalkine), which is expressed on activated endothelial cells (Apostolakis & Spandidos, 2013; Damas et al., 2005). Here, CX3CL1 is linked to cardiovascular disorder.