CCL2 and atherosclerosis: During the early stages of atherosclerosis progression endothelial cells express adhesion molecules (e.g. VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin) as well as chemokines (e.g. MCP-1, MCP-3, Fractalkine) [25], [69], [73], [74] upon activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B [75].