Excess nickel exposure-associated VEGF production in a dose-dependent manner (at concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 μM of NiCl2) through AKT, ERK, and NF-κB activation may be analogous to cadmium-associated VEGF production and atherosclerosis as shown in cell culture studies [131], [188]. The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is atherosclerosis.