There was significantly synergistic effect of combination of telmisartan with rosuvastatin on reducing carotid imtima-media thickness ( IMT ) , Th17 cells frequency , IL-17 , IL-6 , IL-23 , tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) - , expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor ( ROR ) t mRNA , Th17/Treg ratio , IL-1 , IL-2 , IFN - , hsCRP , and MCP-1 , and increasing Treg cells frequency , IL-10 , transforming growth factor ( TGF ) -1 , and expression of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor ( Foxp3 ) mRNA ( all P < 0.05 ) .