CoronaryAtlas logo
CoronaryAtlas
TNF-α
Pathway / Plaque inflammation

TNF-α

TNFprotein

TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that promotes atherosclerotic plaque inflammation, macrophage recruitment, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress driving cap degradation and plaque rupture.

Pathway placement
Cascade stepPlaque inflammation
Confidencehigh
RationaleTh1 pro-inflammatory cytokine central to unstable plaque inflammation; induces endothelial dysfunction and LDL oxidation.
Also acts inEndothelial activation/erosion
Druggability
DruggableYes
Known drugs / candidates14
Small-molecule tractableYes
Antibody tractableYes
EnsemblENSG00000232810

Type I vs Type II discrimination

ScoresType-II-associated
R — rupture / Type-I
—
C — confounder / Type-II
67
A — assay feasibility
72
E — evidence strength
48
T1DI (composite)
8
Specificity differential (R−C)-52
Confounder panel (Type-II drivers)
1sepsis / systemic inflammationmag 3
2anemia / acute blood lossmag 2
3hypovolemia / dehydrationmag 2
4tachyarrhythmiamag 2
5hypoxemia / respiratory failuremag 2
6hypertensive emergencymag 1
7high-demand / peri-operative stressmag 2
Coverage: 7/7 confounders with evidence
Tier: deep-scored (abstract-extracted) · 21 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

0.004
Open Targets association (NSTEMI)

Literature evidence(60)

Showing 40 of 60 linked references.

Clinical trials(1)