Taken together, although elevated PTX3 is consistently linked to endothelial dysfunction and CVD, it is still elusive whether PTX3 is a non-causative maladaptive marker of endothelial inflammation or if it is actually causally related, either actively promoting the development of endothelial dysfunction, or providing protection and controlling the damage of the inflamed endothelium. This evidence concerns the gene PTX3 and endothelial dysfunction.