IL6 and atherosclerosis: For example, chronic vaping has been shown to result in an increased IL-6 pathway, a key cytokine in the inflammatory pathway, which also plays a direct role in progressing plaque buildup and atherosclerosis leading to stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease [16,17]. Specific downstream effects of the IL-6 pathway include increased platelet microparticles, which are key in the development of thrombotic conditions [18].