Inflammation-mediated injury to endothelium generates a pronflammatory signaling cascade and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), both of which recruit blood monocytes to vascular wall, thus perpetuating the release of more cytokines and chemokines at injury site culminating with development of vascular disease such as atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene VCAM1 and atherosclerosis.