Chymase
CMA1proteinChymase from activated mast cells degrades fibrous-cap matrix proteins, contributing to cap thinning and rupture in destabilizing plaques.
Pathway placement
Cascade stepFibrous-cap degradation & rupture
Confidencemedium
RationaleMast-cell protease; extracellular-matrix degradation and fibrous-cap remodeling.
Also acts inVascular inflammation, Endothelial activation/erosion
Druggability
DruggableYes
Known drugs / candidates1
Small-molecule tractableYes
Antibody tractableYes
EnsemblENSG00000092009
Type I vs Type II discrimination
ScoresShared / rises in both
R — rupture / Type-I100
C — confounder / Type-II67
A — assay feasibility72
E — evidence strength53
T1DI (composite)26
Specificity differential (R−C)+33.3
Confounder panel (Type-II drivers)
1sepsis / systemic inflammationn/a
2anemia / acute blood lossmag 2
3hypovolemia / dehydrationmag 3
4tachyarrhythmiamag 2
5hypoxemia / respiratory failuremag 1
6hypertensive emergencyn/a
7high-demand / peri-operative stressn/a
Coverage: 4/7 confounders with evidence
Tier: deep-scored (abstract-extracted) · 9 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)
Human genetic evidence
0.083
Open Targets association (acute_MI)
Literature evidence(2)
- Proteomic profiling of extracellular vesicles reveals additional diagnostic biomarkers for myocardial infarction compared to plasma alone.Scientific reports · 2019 · PMID 31222168 · doi
- Desquamation of human coronary artery endothelium by human mast cell proteases: implications for plaque erosion.Coronary artery disease · 2006 · PMID 17047445 · doi