Sterile inflammation in the spleen during atherosclerosis provides oxidation-specific epitopes that induce a protective B-cell response.

Apo E-/- mice have significantly more antibody to the epitope than wild type mice of the same age, and older mice (20 weeks) have more antibody than younger mice (7-8 weeks) in both wild type and Apo E -/- mice. Antibody to the epitope was also seen in the spleen marginal zone B cells (MZB). Wild type mice were injected with apoptotic cells and more anti epitope antibody was detected.