Oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) stimulated human blood T cells to a specific cytotoxic response which autologous PHA activated blood mononuclear cells which had been pre‐incubated with oxLDL. The cytotoxic reaction was exerted by CD8+ enriched cells but not by CD4+ enriched cells. Allogeneic target cells from HLA mismatched donors were not damaged and the reaction was consistently inhibited by monoclonal antibody against HLA class I. Antigen‐specific cytotoxic T cells might contribute to lysis of cells in the atherosclerotic plaque that have taken up oxLDL and thus participate in the inflammatory process associated with atherosclerosis.