Furthermore, four genes showed a borderline significant association: vitronectin ( VTN , adjusted P = 7.64 × 10 -2 ), the complement regulatory protein CD46 (adjusted P = 7.24 × 10 -2 ), coagulation factor II receptor-like 2 ( F2RL2 , adjusted P = 7.24 × 10 -2 ), and alpha-2-macroglobulin ( A2M , adjusted P = 7.64 × 10 -2 ) (Table 1 ).
At the gene level, we identified six (four with borderline significance) susceptibility CS-related genes, including FCN1 , which is expressed in leukocytes and involved in elastin-binding 21 , 22 ; PLAT converts plasminogen into plasmin, crucial in cell migration and tissue remodeling/degradation 23 ; CD46 protects host cells from complement self-cell damage 24 , 25 ; F2RL2 is key in thrombosis 26 ; VTN promotes cell adhesion 27 and inhibits the MAC 28 ; and A2M , which works as a protease inhibitor 29 , 30 .