To explore the effect of IKKε activation on LSS-induced atherosclerotic lesions, especially in the medial bend and bifurcation of the aortic arch, we constructed an HCD-induced atherosclerosis model with or without endothelial-specific IKKε knockdown by administering rAAV-tie2-IKKε (IKKεKD) or rAAV-tie2-vectors (IKKεvector) adeno-associated virus in ApoE−/− mice (Fig. 2a). Here, IKBKE is linked to atherosclerosis.