CCL2 and atherosclerosis: ECs have been found to increase the expression of pro-inflammatory chemotactic molecules, e.g., monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and adhesion molecules, e.g., intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin/P-selectin, to recruit monocytes for adhesion to and penetration into vessel walls, thereby initiating the progression of atherosclerosis [4–7, 16].