Elevated cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, are essential contributors to endothelial damage and the upregulation of pro-atherogenic factors like vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), which promotes leukocyte recruitment to endothelial surfaces, triggering vascular injury and atherosclerosis [29]. The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is atherosclerosis.