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We have previously shown that immunization to homologous LDL reduces neointimal thickening after balloon injury in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. In this study we investigated the effects of the immune system on intimal thickening after arterial injury in RAG (recombination activating gene)-1 deficient (-/-) mice. The arterial injury was induced by placing of a plastic cuff around the carotid artery. RAG-1 deficient mice have small lymphoid organs that do not contain mature B and T lymphocytes. Injury was induced in 15 B6/129 RAG-1 (-/-) mice and 14 normal B6/129 RAG-1 (+/+) mice. Animals were euthanized 21 days after cuff placement and intimal and medial areas were measured by computerized morphological image analysis. (Table)Conclusion: arterial injury in immune-deficient RAG-1 knock-out mice induces more abundant intimal thickening compared to control mice. These data indicate that mature B and T lymphocytes may act to suppress the development of the intimal thickening after injury and atherosclerosis.