This peak coincides exactly with a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for inflammatory biomarker (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, MCP-1) linkage in the Framingham Heart Study (LOD 4.27, at peak marker D1S1589) [16], as well as a linkage peak to metabolic syndrome (MetS) from the IRAS family study (LOD 2.59, at peak marker D1S1589/D1S518) [17]. This evidence concerns the gene CCL2 and metabolic syndrome.