NRG-1 levels were significantly lower in ASCVD patients than in the controls (123.45 ± 0.87 pg/ml vs. 139.76 ± 0.83 pg/ml, P < 0.001), whereas the concentrations of proinflammatory mediators such as MCP-1, MPO, VCAM-1, and hs-CRP were higher in ASCVD patients than in the controls (Figure 2, Supplementary Table S2). Here, VCAM1 is linked to atherosclerosis.