Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering drugs reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, many individuals treated with statins do not achieve their target levels of LDL-C. So, there is great need for new drugs to reduce cholesterol in those patients who have not achieved target levels with statins as well as those who are statin intolerant. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a novel agent, which plays an important role in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism. It increases degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor, modulates cholesterol metabolism, and transport. This review will address new therapeutic strategies targeting PCSK9, including monoclonal antibodies, small interfering RNAs, and other small molecule inhibitors.
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Biomark Res
December 2024
Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong, 250021, China.
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) was first reported in 2003 and confirmed to be strongly associated with familial hypercholesterolemia. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting PCSK9 provide an effective and safe method for managing hypercholesterolemia and reducing the cardiovascular risk. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated other important roles for PCSK9 in inflammation, tumors, and even immune regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Med (Lausanne)
December 2024
Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Background: The co-occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is linked to a more unfavorable prognosis and increased mortality compared to PF cases without PH. Early intervention and comprehensive management are pivotal for improving survival outcomes. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a protein essential in cholesterol metabolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Dermatol Res
December 2024
Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shannxi, China.
Lipid metabolism disorders are frequently noted in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, prompting the long-term use of lipid-lowering drugs. However, the causal effects of circulating lipids and different lipid-lowering drugs on the risk of AD are not thoroughly understood. Using publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data from two different cohorts, a series of Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to explore the causal effects of genetically proxied circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs on the risk of AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNEJM Evid
January 2025
TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Background: Concerns persist regarding the cognitive safety of achieving very low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Although short-term studies are reassuring, the long-term cognitive effects of sustained exposure to very low LDL cholesterol levels through combined proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition and statin therapy remain unknown.
Methods: This prospective study enrolled a subset of adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who had completed a neurocognitive substudy (EBBINGHAUS) of a placebo-controlled randomized trial of evolocumab (FOURIER) and were eligible for a long-term open-label extension.
Int J Biol Macromol
December 2024
Institute of Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis, School of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, China. Electronic address:
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is known to promote hyperlipidemia primarily by inducing the degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Notably, recent studies have demonstrated that PCSK9 promotes inflammation in the vascular system, however, the roles of PCSK9 in hepatic inflammation remain unclear. As PCSK9 is primarily expressed in the liver, this study aimed to elucidate the roles of PCSK9 and the underlying mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged hepatocytes.
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