C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2
CXCL2geneCXCL2 recruits leukocytes and promotes smooth muscle remodeling in vulnerable plaques.
Pathway placement
Cascade stepPlaque inflammation
Confidencehigh
RationaleLeukocyte chemokine; drives smooth muscle proliferation and plaque destabilization.
Also acts inCap degradation / rupture
Druggability
DruggableYes
Known drugs / candidates0
Small-molecule tractableNo
Antibody tractableYes
EnsemblENSG00000081041
Type I vs Type II discrimination
ScoresLow-confidence (proxy)
R — rupture / Type-I49
C — confounder / Type-II84
A — assay feasibility52
E — evidence strength31
T1DI (composite)5
Specificity differential (R−C)-35.5
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(3)
- Identification of biomarkers associated with coronary artery disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by bioinformatics analysis and machine learning.Scientific reports · 2025 · PMID 39875572 · doi
- Single-cell transcriptomics reveals cellular dynamics and chemokine CXCL2-mediated smooth muscle cell proliferation in arterial repair.Frontiers in immunology · 2025 · PMID 40463365 · doi
- Vascular and thrombogenic effects of pulmonary exposure to Libby amphibole.Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A · 2012 · PMID 22352330 · doi