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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 non-Type I discrimination

ScoresNon-Type-I-associated
R — rupture / Type-I
—
C — non-Type-I
64
A — assay feasibility
72
E — evidence strength
48
T1DI (composite)
9
Specificity differential (R−C)-48.6
Non-Type-I axis panel
Does this marker also move in each non-Type-I setting? mag 0–3; higher means less Type-I-specific. n/a = no evidence retrieved, which is not the same as no change.
2sepsis / systemic inflammationmag 3
2anemia / acute blood lossmag 2
2hypovolemia / dehydrationmag 2
2tachyarrhythmiamag 2
2hypoxemia / respiratory failuremag 2
2hypertensive emergencymag 1
2high-demand / peri-operative stressmag 2
3sudden cardiac deathmag 1
4aPCI-related periproceduralmag 2
4bstent thrombosisn/a
4cin-stent restenosismag 2
5CABG-relatedmag 2
Coverage: 11/12 axes with evidence
Tier: deep-scored (abstract-extracted) · 35 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)