VCAM1 and Sepsis: More importantly, in an in vitro study, the serum from sepsis patients can upregulate the expression of VCAM-1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and improve the adhesion of leukocytes to HUVECs through the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 in signal transduction.