IL6 and Autoimmunity: Indeed, using cytokine arrays to detect soluble factors in the cell culture model presented here (Fig. 5), we find that co-culture with VSMCs enhances the production of chemotactic factors (CXCL1/GROα, CCL2/MCP1 and IL-8), which are key regulators of mononuclear cell recruitment to atherosclerotic plaques31,32, and IL-6, which is normally associated with chronic inflammation and autoimmunity, including atherosclerosis10,33.