In the early stage of atherosclerosis, activated endothelial cells secrete monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/C-C chemokine ligand 2 (MCP-1/CCL2), and its receptor C-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 2 (CCR2) is highly expressed on the surface of monocytes. Here, CCL2 is linked to atherosclerosis.