In summary, the related molecular mechanism by which CXCL16 promotes carotid atherosclerosis may involve CXCL16 and inflammatory factors promoting the expression of each other through a positive feedback regulatory loop and activating the pathway to further promote inflammation and endothelial cell proliferation and migration and promote the development of carotid atherosclerosis (Figure 1). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL16 and carotid atherosclerosis.