Inflammation contributes to endothelial dysfunction by activating NF-κB, which is translocated to the nucleus and activates its target genes involved in endothelial dysfunction, such as cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 that facilitate the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of inflammation) and inflammatory mediators like IL-6 and TNF-α. The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is endothelial dysfunction.