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α-Smooth Muscle Actin
Pathway / Fibrous-cap degradation & rupture

α-Smooth Muscle Actin

ACTA2protein

ACTA2 (α-SMA) marks myofibroblast activation and fibrotic remodeling of the atherosclerotic plaque and myocardium.

Pathway placement
Cascade stepFibrous-cap degradation & rupture
Confidencemedium
RationaleMyofibroblast marker in fibrous-cap remodeling and cardiac fibrosis; smooth muscle activation.
Also acts inVascular inflammation
Druggability
DruggableNo
Known drugs / candidates0
Small-molecule tractableNo
Antibody tractableNo
EnsemblENSG00000107796

Type I vs Type II discrimination

ScoresType-II-associated
R — rupture / Type-I
—
C — confounder / Type-II
61
A — assay feasibility
68
E — evidence strength
86
T1DI (composite)
16
Specificity differential (R−C)-46.1
Confounder panel (Type-II drivers)
1sepsis / systemic inflammationmag 2
2anemia / acute blood lossn/a
3hypovolemia / dehydrationmag 2
4tachyarrhythmiamag 2
5hypoxemia / respiratory failuremag 2
6hypertensive emergencymag 1
7high-demand / peri-operative stressmag 2
Coverage: 6/7 confounders with evidence
Tier: deep-scored (abstract-extracted) · 11 supporting references. See the discrimination table for all markers.

Assay & specimen

Class-level default (no specific cleared assay)— generic method inferred from analyte class; confirm against a specific product insert before use.
Specimen
Serum or plasma
Collection tube
Serum separator (gold/red-top, SST) · K2/K3-EDTA (lavender-top)
Method / principle
Sandwich immunoassay (ELISA) — research-grade unless a cleared assay exists
Reagent / substrate
Matched anti-target antibody pair (capture + labeled detection)
Platform
ELISA microplate or multiplex (Luminex/MSD)
Turnaround · availability
Send-out / research · Research-grade (no universal clinical assay)

Literature evidence(3)