VCAM1 and atherosclerosis: Recent studies have shown that by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α, tanshinone IIA down-regulates the expression of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in EPC and improves the damaged cell functions of EPC, such as proliferation, migration, adhesion, and tubular formation, which provides a potential pharmacological effect on preventing atherosclerosis [13, 14].