VCAM1 and atherosclerosis: We thus examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) the expression levels of four adhesion molecules, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, e-selectin and p-selectin, that are important for the development of atherosclerosis [20] on RNA isolated from the aortic arches of p55−/−LDLR−/− and control mice.