VCAM1 and Hypertension: Accordingly, we hypothesized that NLRP3 activation was associated with hypertension, upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); adhesion molecule VCAM-1, chemokine CCL2, CXCR3 in PVN, and microglial activation, contribute to the inflammatory reaction with amplification, which resulted in an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, increase of sympathetic excitability and elevated blood pressure.