As shown in Fig. 1C,D pathogenic proteins in atherosclerosis were up‐regulated in both plasma and carotid lesions – monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP‐1), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1; P < 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene CCL2 and atherosclerosis.