Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L)

Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is contained in platelet granules and thus its presence in the blood is a marker of platelet activation. By interacting with CD40, which is found on endothelial and smooth muscle cells, sCD40L may trigger the release of inflammatory mediators, lead to increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases, and activate the coagulation cascade.

Several recent studies have demonstrated that sCD40L is a powerful and independent predictor of outcome in ACS ^{[1] [2]}. GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors can blunt the magnitude of sCD40L release. ^[3] Soluble CD40L elevation identifies a subset of patients who appear to enjoy the greatest benefit from GP IIb/IIIa inhibition, regardless of troponin status. ^[4]

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