The study was a collaboration between the CNIC research groups led by Sánchez-Madrid and Pilar Martín. The study identifies the molecule CD69 as a T cell receptor for oxidized lipoproteins that contributes to the control of inflammation and thus prevents the development of atherosclerosis. “Binding of LDLox to CD69 triggers the adoption of an anti-inflammatory profile by T lymphocytes that protects against the development of atherosclerosis in mice and humans,” explained Pilar Martín. For this research project, the team used mice lacking the CD69 gene. The project was supported by the Spanish Cardiovascular Disease Research Network (CIBER-CV) as was conducted in partnership with José Martínez González, whose group is based at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas in Barcelona (IIB-Sant Pau).