CCL2 and atherosclerosis: oxLDL further activates endothelial cells, causing them to release adhesion molecules and chemokines (M-CSF, CCL2, and VCAM-1).784–786 During the formation of atherosclerosis, monocytes from the bone marrow and liver are recruited to the plaque via CCL2/CCL7-CCR2 and CX3CR1 pathways.787 Early in the formation process, the recruitment predominantly involves monocytes expressing high levels of Ly-6C.