When the plaques burst in the mice, a chemical called IL-17 showed up in high amounts in their blood and right where the plaque broke — like a warning signal at the scene of the damage.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Th17 cells and IL-17 are involved in the disruption of vulnerable plaques triggered by short-term combination stimulation in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice

Cohort Study

Animal

2013 Jul

Scientists found that when plaques in mice burst, there was a lot more IL-17—a protein that triggers inflammation—both in the blood and right around the burst area, showing the immune system is actively involved in making plaques unstable.

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No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Th17 cells and IL-17 are involved in the disruption of vulnerable plaques triggered by short-term combination stimulation in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice

Score: 17

DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2013.4

Similar Assertions

When mice with fatty arteries were stressed, the number of a specific type of immune cell called Th17 went up dramatically — but another type, Th1, stayed the same, suggesting Th17 might be special in causing artery damage.

79%

The cells that make both IL-17 and IFN-γ actually went down after stress — meaning the IL-17 causing damage probably came from cells that were already making it, not new ones being created.

74%