The combination of ApoE deficiency and HFD negatively impacts both lymphatic smooth muscle (LMC) and lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) function, which may result in impaired removal of cholesterol by the lymphatic system from the skin and the arterial wall (Lim et al., 2013; Martel et al., 2013; Martel & Randolph, 2013) and thereby exacerbate the progression and/or severity of atherosclerosis (Yeo KP et al., 2020). Here, APOE is linked to atherosclerosis.