CCL2 and atherosclerosis: We identified correlations between carotid atherosclerosis and elevated serum levels of IL-8 and MCP-1, especially among participants with levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 in the highest tertiles (OR: 2.4, p = 0.030 and OR: 2.4, p = 0.040, respectively); this reveals possible roles for these inflammatory mediators in the early stages of atherosclerosis development.