Abstract: Objective To identify a potential plasma marker for the prediction of atherosclerosis in mice. Methods C57BL/6J mice were fed on regular diet. Apo-E deficient mice (on C57BL/6J background) were divided into four groups，group A: high cholesterol diet (1% cholesterol) alone, group B: high-cholesterol diet with rosuvastatin (lmg/kg/d)，group C: high-cholesterol diet with candesartan (1 mg/kg/d)， and group D: high-cholesterol diet with rosuvastatin and candesartan. All the mice groups were fed for 12 weeks. Plasma titers of ox-LDL auto-antibodies in relation to the extent of atherosclerosis in these mice were measured. Results C57BL/6J mice had no atherosclerosis, whereas mice in group A had extensive atherosclerosis. The extent of atherosclerosis was decreased in group B and C mice, despite high-cholesterol diet. Moreover, the extent of atherosclerosis was further decreased in group D mice. The plasma titers of four ox-LDL auto-antibodies were measured. It was found that the mean values of all antibodies, includ-ing Cu-LDL-IgG, Cu-LDL-IgM，MDA-LDL-IgG and MDA-LDL-IgM, were higher in group A mice than in C57BL/6J mice (P＜0.01). Compared with group A mice，group B，C and D mice had lower plasma titers of Cu-LDL-IgG, which was consistent with the decrease in extent of atherosclerosis. Compared with that of C57BL/6J mice, plasma level of ox-LDL reduced in group A mice (P＜0.01). Although plasma level of ox-LDL also reduced in group B and C mice，it was restored back to normal level in group D mice. Conclusion The plasma titer of Cu-LDL-IgG is consistent with the progression and regression of atherosclerosis and it may serve as a marker for the prediction of atherosclerosis.

Key words: Atherosclerosis, Immune response, Ox-LDL, Cu-LDL-IgG