VCAM1 and atherosclerosis: Experimental studies have partially identified these mechanisms: atherosclerosis is a notoriously pathophysiological process of ischemic stroke, IR can accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis by decreasing eNOS activation (triggering endothelium dysfunction), increasing VCAM-1 expression (triggering leukocyte adhesion) in endothelial cells and migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells [6, 7].