In addition, several pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and metalloproteases are significantly elevated in the plasma of patients with a recent ischemic stroke and carotid atherosclerosis, and some of them [fractalkine (FKN), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1)] are independently associated with the degree of plaque inflammation [17]. The gene discussed is CX3CL1; the disease is carotid atherosclerosis.