In this comprehensive collection of reviews of various aspects of atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis biology in mouse models, the first issue dealt with risk factors such as diet, genetics, gender, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and acute inflammation. The second issue was devoted to many putative mechanisms contributing to atherosclerosis. Among the topics reviewed were: the interaction of modified lipoproteins with Toll-like receptors influencing atherosclerosis; the role of oxidative stress in the stimulating atherogenesis; the family of lipases (hepatic, lipoprotein, endothelial) produced by a variety of atherosclerosis relevant cells and capable of influencing lipoprotein homeostasis; the recruitment of blood cells to the vessel wall during atherogenesis; the central role of monocyte derived foam cells in atherosclerosis; the cytokines produced by the variety of cell types among innate and adaptive immune systems that influence atherosclerosis; the role of nuclear receptors in regulating lipoprotein metabolism and macrophage biology; the important effects of apoptosis of cells of the atherosclerotic lesions particularly in influencing the fate of these lesions; and the role of the adaptive immune system in regulating lipoprotein homeostasis and atherogenesis.