Proteomic studies have shown that certain markers of atherosclerosis (fractalkine/CX3CL1, CCL8, M-CSF, HGF), T cell development and activation (CD40L, IL-7, CCL25, IL-2RB, IL-15RA, CD6), and angiogenesis (VEGF-A) were significantly elevated exclusively in the serum of patients with atopic dermatitis, emphasising the systemic nature of the disease and its contribution to increased cardiovascular risk [81]. The gene discussed is CX3CL1; the disease is atherosclerosis.