CXCR4 and atherosclerosis: These genes include MCP-1, IL-8, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, and CXCR4. MCP-1, which was up-regulated 2.6-fold, has been implicated in the development of vascular disease ranging from arterial injury to the formation of atherosclerosis (Charo and Taubman 2004).