VCAM1 and endothelial dysfunction: Resistin increases the release of endothelin-1 (ET-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), which results in endothelial dysfunction and thus may promote the advancement of atherosclerosis [18,38,39].