[8], [36], [37] Based in part upon established work in the field of peripheral atherosclerosis, [38] experiments were carried out on a number of inflammatory genes that may play a role in carotid and cerebrovascular disease. Quantitative real time PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that CSE exposure for 24 hours markedly increased expression of MCP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB in a dose-dependent manner (Figure 4). Here, TNF is linked to cerebrovascular disorder.