VCAM1 and hyperlipidemia: When external risk factors (such as hyperlipidemia and low/oscillatory shear stress in blood flow) damage vascular endothelial cells, the function of endothelial cells is impaired, resulting in increased secretion of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) along with a battery of other adhesion molecules and/or interleukins.