CCL2 and Hypertension: Moreover, the mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-6 [40], intercellular/vascular cell adhesion molecules (ICAM, VCAM) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), have been reported to be enhanced in aortas of hypertensive rats [18,40], and in cardiac tissue from different rat models of hypertension [5,43].