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Cathepsin L
Pathway / Fibrous-cap degradation & rupture

Cathepsin L

CTSLprotein

Cathepsin L is a lysosomal cysteine protease that degrades atherosclerotic plaque extracellular matrix and also contributes to cardiomyocyte proteolysis during ischemia.

Pathway placement
Cascade stepFibrous-cap degradation & rupture
Confidencehigh
RationaleLysosomal protease; collagen/elastin degradation in plaque; myocardial proteolysis.
Also acts inMyocardial injury, Vascular inflammation
Druggability
DruggableYes
Known drugs / candidates0
Small-molecule tractableYes
Antibody tractableYes
EnsemblENSG00000135047

Type I vs Type II discrimination

ScoresLow-confidence (proxy)
R — rupture / Type-I
36
C — confounder / Type-II
62
A — assay feasibility
68
E — evidence strength
23
T1DI (composite)
6
Specificity differential (R−C)-26.1
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
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)