Pentraxin-3
PTX3proteinPentraxin-3 mediates immune inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques and modulates platelet activation during thrombosis.
Pathway placement
Cascade stepPlaque inflammation
Confidencehigh
RationalePTX3 is an immune inflammation marker in plaques; also inhibits platelet aggregation.
Also acts inPlatelet activation
Druggability
DruggableYes
Known drugs / candidates0
Small-molecule tractableNo
Antibody tractableYes
EnsemblENSG00000163661
Type I vs Type II discrimination
ScoresLow-confidence (proxy)
R — rupture / Type-I58
C — confounder / Type-II75
A — assay feasibility68
E — evidence strength29
T1DI (composite)8
Specificity differential (R−C)-17.1
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)
Human genetic evidence
0.019
Open Targets association (STEMI)
Literature evidence(10)
- Key immune-related hub genes BTK, ITGAL and PTX3 mediate macrophage phenotypic shift and foam cell formation in the periodontitis-atherosclerosis axis.Molecular biology reports · 2025 · PMID 41231296 · doi
- Thromboinflammation Supports Complement Activation in Cancer Patients With COVID-19.Frontiers in immunology · 2021 · PMID 34491250 · doi
- Using proximity extension proteomics assay to identify biomarkers associated with infarct size and ejection fraction after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.Scientific reports · 2020 · PMID 33122738 · doi
- Beyond Cholesterol - New Cardiovascular Biomarkers.Nestle Nutrition Institute workshop series · 2016 · PMID 26764476 · doi
- Vascular pentraxin 3 controls arterial thrombosis by targeting collagen and fibrinogen induced platelets aggregation.Biochimica et biophysica acta · 2016 · PMID 26976330 · doi
- Associations between circulating proteins and corresponding genes expressed in coronary thrombi in patients with acute myocardial infarction.Thrombosis research · 2015 · PMID 26475405 · doi
- Long-term prognostic utility of pentraxin 3 and D-dimer as compared to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and B-type natriuretic peptide in suspected acute coronary syndrome.European journal of preventive cardiology · 2015 · PMID 26635361 · doi
- Influence of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) genetic variants on myocardial infarction risk and PTX3 plasma levels.PloS one · 2012 · PMID 23285251 · doi
- [Pentraxin 3].Rinsho byori. The Japanese journal of clinical pathology · 2011 · PMID 21874796
- The long pentraxin PTX3: a modulator of the immunoinflammatory response in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.Trends in cardiovascular medicine · 2010 · PMID 20656213 · doi