CCL2 and atherosclerosis: Increased vascular permeabilityand the resultant vascular leakage are some of the first observablealterations in diabetic retinopathy and strongly correlate with visionimpairment.29 Leukocyte adhesion to theendothelium is highly correlated to atheromatous plaque formationand initiates atherosclerosis development.30 The overexpression of MCP-1 results in macrophage accumulation andatherosclerosis acceleration, while the inhibition of MCP-1 alleviateslipid deposition and the atherosclerotic process.