Immunoglobulin M
proteinIgM autoantibodies targeting oxidized lipoproteins suppress lipid retention and promote clearance of modified LDL, reducing plaque burden.
Pathway placement
Cascade stepLipid retention & oxidation
Confidencehigh
RationaleClears oxidized LDL; atheroprotective via modified-lipoprotein targeting.
Also acts inVascular inflammation
Druggability
Not assessed (no mapped human gene target).
Type I vs Type II discrimination
ScoresType-II-associated
R — rupture / Type-I—
C — confounder / Type-II50
A — assay feasibility68
E — evidence strength28
T1DI (composite)6
Specificity differential (R−C)-35
Confounder panel (Type-II drivers)
1sepsis / systemic inflammationmag 2
2anemia / acute blood lossn/a
3hypovolemia / dehydrationmag 2
4tachyarrhythmiamag 1
5hypoxemia / respiratory failuremag 2
6hypertensive emergencymag 1
7high-demand / peri-operative stressmag 1
Coverage: 6/7 confounders with evidence
Tier: deep-scored (abstract-extracted) · 7 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)
Literature evidence(4)
- Oxidation-specific epitopes are major targets of innate immunity in atherothrombosis.Hamostaseologie · 2015 · PMID 25682990 · doi
- Protective role of natural IgM-producing B1a cells in atherosclerosis.Trends in cardiovascular medicine · 2012 · PMID 22841841 · doi
- Atherogenesis and the humoral immune response to modified lipoproteins.Atherosclerosis · 2008 · PMID 18513726 · doi
- Oxidized LDL antibodies in treatment and risk assessment of atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular disease.Current pharmaceutical design · 2007 · PMID 17430165 · doi