CD44
CD44geneCD44 mediates leukocyte-endothelial interactions, macrophage infiltration, and cell death pathways in atherosclerotic plaque inflammation and erosion.
Pathway placement
Cascade stepPlaque inflammation
Confidencehigh
RationaleHub gene in AMI; macrophage infiltration, cell adhesion, plaque erosion, ferroptosis pathway in atherosclerosis.
Also acts inEndothelial activation/erosion, Platelet activation
Druggability
DruggableYes
Known drugs / candidates2
Small-molecule tractableNo
Antibody tractableYes
EnsemblENSG00000026508
Type I vs Type II discrimination
ScoresLow-confidence (proxy)
R — rupture / Type-I52
C — confounder / Type-II95
A — assay feasibility52
E — evidence strength35
T1DI (composite)5
Specificity differential (R−C)-43.6
Confounder panel (Type-II drivers)
No confounder evidence retrieved.
Tier: light (literature co-occurrence proxy — lower confidence). 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
Whole blood — gene is not a circulating analyte; measure protein product or genotype
Collection tube
K2-EDTA whole blood (lavender-top)
Method / principle
SNP genotyping / sequencing; or immunoassay of encoded protein
Reagent / substrate
Allele-specific primers/probes (TaqMan) or NGS panel; or antibody for protein
Platform
qPCR / NGS / array
Turnaround · availability
Send-out · Genotyping widely available; protein assay variable
Literature evidence(4)
- Multiomics Analysis Identifies Candidate Molecular, Microbiota, and Metabolite Features Associated with Acute Myocardial Infarction Combined with Chronic Renal Failure.Omics : a journal of integrative biology · 2026 · PMID 42267897 · doi
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses reveal the dynamic transcript profiles of myocardial lymphangiogenesis post-myocardial infarction.Chinese medical journal · 2025 · PMID 40719321 · doi
- Integrating metagenomics, lipidomics and proteomics to explore the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 on atherosclerosis co-depression disease.Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology · 2025 · PMID 41014671 · doi
- Differential accumulation of proteoglycans and hyaluronan in culprit lesions: insights into plaque erosion.Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology · 2002 · PMID 12377743 · doi