Recent studies on atherosclerosis pathogenesis show that isolated monocytic cells subjected to primary stimulation with oxLDL-C (modified, oxidized LDL-C), during secondary stimulation with agonists of toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR4, exhibit an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, interleukins 6, 8 and 18, and the MCP-1 chemokine. Here, TNF is linked to atherosclerosis.