These blood parameters have been extensively linked with CVD and its comorbidities or risk factors, and widely considered to be systemic biomarkers of i.e. inflammation (CRP, IL6) or obesity and lipid levels (adiponectin, LDL, HDL), etc. Although FURIN was downregulated in plaques compared to normal arteries, we showed that there is a positive correlation between its plaque expression levels, serum cholesterol/LDL levels (of note, with marginal correlation also to plasma adiponectin) and total plaque MATX content in matched patients. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.