VCAM1 and atherosclerosis: The marine alkaloid halichlorine (1) was isolated from the black sponge Halichondria okadai Kadota by Uemure and co-workers in 1996.1 It selectively inhibits the expression of the inducible cell surface protein VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1), and can be used to treat atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, and non-cardiovascular inflammatory diseases.