CCR7 and alkaline phosphatase measurement: This finding is in line with the distribution of chemokine receptor ligands leading to NK cell migration in AP, as it has been recently demonstrated that CCL19 and CCL21, the major chemokines dictating CCR7-dependent migration of CD56bright NK cells, are upregulated in atherosclerotic carotid plaques of symptomatic patients as compared to asymptomatic ones (46, 47).