CD44-deficiency on hematopoietic cells limits T-cell number but does not protect against atherogenesis in LDL receptor-deficient mice

This study surprisingly revealed that atherogenesis does not require CD44 expression on hematopoietic cells in the LDL receptor-deficient mouse model. However, CD44 promotes T-cell recruitment, downregulates chemokine receptor-5, and participates critically in leukocyte adhesion in vivo. Consequently, the anti-atherogenic role of CD44 may require CD44-deficiency on cell types other than inflammatory cells in the LDL receptor-deficient mouse model.