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Grejtakova D, Boronova I, Bernasovska J, Bellosta S. PCSK9 and Lipid Metabolism: Genetic Variants, Current Therapies, and Cardiovascular Outcomes. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2024:10.1007/s10557-024-07599-5. [PMID: 38907775 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-024-07599-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a crucial role in the modulation of lipid metabolism as a critical negative regulator of hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) levels and circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) clearance. Numerous gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in PCSK9 have been identified as causing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) by reducing LDLR levels, and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations associated with a hypercholesterolemia phenotype protective against atherosclerosis. PCSK9 represents an example of successful translational research resulting in the identification of PCSK9 as a major drug target for a lipid-lowering therapy. To explore the genetic constitution of PCSK9 and its biologic role, in this review, we summarize the current evidence of clinically significant PCSK9 genetic variants involved in lipid metabolism as well as emphasize the importance of PCSK9 inhibition for the improvement of cardiovascular outcomes by conducting a meta-analysis of the available data on the incidence of cardiovascular disease events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Grejtakova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, 17 November 1, Presov, 08001, Slovakia.
| | - Iveta Boronova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, 17 November 1, Presov, 08001, Slovakia
| | - Jarmila Bernasovska
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, 17 November 1, Presov, 08001, Slovakia
| | - Stefano Bellosta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
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2
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Los B, Ferreira GM, Borges JB, Kronenberger T, Oliveira VFD, Dagli-Hernandez C, Bortolin RH, Gonçalves RM, Faludi AA, Mori AA, Barbosa TKA, Freitas RCCD, Jannes CE, Pereira ADC, Bastos GM, Poso A, Hirata RDC, Hirata MH. Effects of PCSK9 missense variants on molecular conformation and biological activity in transfected HEK293FT cells. Gene 2023; 851:146979. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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3
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Ben-Naim L, Khalaila I, Papo N. Modifying pH-sensitive PCSK9/LDLR interactions as a strategy to enhance hepatic cell uptake of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Protein Eng Des Sel 2022; 35:6529797. [DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
LDL-receptor (LDLR)-mediated uptake of LDL-C into hepatocytes is impaired by lysosomal degradation of LDLR, which is promoted by proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Cell surface binding of PCSK9 to LDLR produces a complex that translocates to an endosome, where the acidic pH strengthens the binding affinity of PCSK9 to LDLR, preventing LDLR recycling to the cell membrane. We present a new approach to inhibit PCSK9-mediated LDLR degradation, namely, targeting the PCSK9/LDLR interface with a PCSK9-antagonist, designated Flag-PCSK9PH, which prevents access of WT PCSK9 to LDLR. In HepG2 cells, Flag-PCSK9PH, a truncated version (residues 53–451) of human WT PCSK9, strongly bound LDLR at the neutral pH of the cell surface but dissociated from it in the endosome (acidic pH), allowing LDLR to exit the lysosomes intact and recycle to the cell membrane. Flag-PCSK9PH thus significantly enhanced cell-surface LDLR levels and the ability of LDLR to take up extracellular LDL-C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lital Ben-Naim
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Isam Khalaila
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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Sarkar SK, Foo ACY, Matyas A, Asikhia I, Kosenko T, Goto NK, Vergara-Jaque A, Lagace TA. A transient amphipathic helix in the prodomain of PCSK9 facilitates binding to low-density lipoprotein particles. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2285-2298. [PMID: 31949048 PMCID: PMC7039556 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK9) is a ligand of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) that promotes LDLR degradation in late endosomes/lysosomes. In human plasma, 30–40% of PCSK9 is bound to LDL particles; however, the physiological significance of this interaction remains unknown. LDL binding in vitro requires a disordered N-terminal region in PCSK9's prodomain. Here, we report that peptides corresponding to a predicted amphipathic α-helix in the prodomain N terminus adopt helical structure in a membrane-mimetic environment. This effect was greatly enhanced by an R46L substitution representing an atheroprotective PCSK9 loss-of-function mutation. A helix-disrupting proline substitution within the putative α-helical motif in full-length PCSK9 lowered LDL binding affinity >5-fold. Modeling studies suggested that the transient α-helix aligns multiple polar residues to interact with positively charged residues in the C-terminal domain. Gain-of-function PCSK9 mutations associated with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and clustered at the predicted interdomain interface (R469W, R496W, and F515L) inhibited LDL binding, which was completely abolished in the case of the R496W variant. These findings shed light on allosteric conformational changes in PCSK9 required for high-affinity binding to LDL particles. Moreover, the initial identification of FH-associated mutations that diminish PCSK9's ability to bind LDL reported here supports the notion that PCSK9-LDL association in the circulation inhibits PCSK9 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha K Sarkar
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Alexander C Y Foo
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Angela Matyas
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Ikhuosho Asikhia
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Tanja Kosenko
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Natalie K Goto
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Ariela Vergara-Jaque
- Center for Bioinformatics and Molecular Simulation, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile; Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-associated Diseases (MiNICAD), 3460000 Talca, Chile
| | - Thomas A Lagace
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada.
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Nishikido T, Ray KK. Non-antibody Approaches to Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin 9 Inhibition: siRNA, Antisense Oligonucleotides, Adnectins, Vaccination, and New Attempts at Small-Molecule Inhibitors Based on New Discoveries. Front Cardiovasc Med 2019; 5:199. [PMID: 30761308 PMCID: PMC6361748 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2018.00199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of the principal risk factors for atherosclerosis. Circulating LDL particles can penetrate into the sub-endothelial space of arterial walls. These particles undergo oxidation and promote an inflammatory response, resulting in injury to the vascular endothelial wall. Persistent elevation of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) is linked to the progression of fatty streaks to lipid-rich plaque and thus atherosclerosis. LDL-C is a causal factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and lowering it is beneficial across a range of conditions associated with high risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, all guidelines-recommended initiations of statin therapy for patients at high cardiovascular risk is irrespective of LDL-C. In addition, intensive LDL-C lowering therapy with statins has been demonstrated to result in a greater reduction of cardiovascular event risk in large clinical trials. However, many high-risk patients receiving statins fail to achieve the guideline-recommended reduction in LDL-C levels in routine clinical practice. Moreover, low levels of adherence and often high rates of discontinuation demand the need for further therapies. Ezetimibe has typically been used as a complement to statins when further LDL-C reduction is required. More recently, proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for lowering LDL-C levels, with PCSK9 inhibitors offering greater reductions than feasible through the addition of ezetimibe. PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies have been shown to not only considerably lower LDL-C levels but also cardiovascular events. However, PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies require once- or twice-monthly subcutaneous injections. Further, their manufacturing process is expensive, increasing the cost of therapy. Therefore, several non-antibody treatments to inhibit PCSK9 function are being developed as alternative approaches to monoclonal antibodies. These include gene-silencing or editing technologies, such as antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNA, and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 platform; small-molecule inhibitors; mimetic peptides; adnectins; and vaccination. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge base on the role of PCSK9 in lipid metabolism and an overview of non-antibody approaches for PCSK9 inhibition and their limitations. The subsequent development of alternative approaches to PCSK9 inhibition may give us more affordable and convenient therapeutic options for the management of high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Nishikido
- Imperial Centre for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Cardiovascular medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Kausik K Ray
- Imperial Centre for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Benito-Vicente A, Uribe KB, Jebari S, Galicia-Garcia U, Ostolaza H, Martin C. Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Most Frequent Cholesterol Metabolism Disorder Caused Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113426. [PMID: 30388787 PMCID: PMC6275065 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is an essential component of cell barrier formation and signaling transduction involved in many essential physiologic processes. For this reason, cholesterol metabolism must be tightly controlled. Cell cholesterol is mainly acquired from two sources: Dietary cholesterol, which is absorbed in the intestine and, intracellularly synthesized cholesterol that is mainly synthesized in the liver. Once acquired, both are delivered to peripheral tissues in a lipoprotein dependent mechanism. Malfunctioning of cholesterol metabolism is caused by multiple hereditary diseases, including Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Sitosterolemia Type C and Niemann-Pick Type C1. Of these, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common inherited autosomal co-dominant disorder characterized by high plasma cholesterol levels. Its frequency is estimated to be 1:200 and, if untreated, increases the risk of premature cardiovascular disease. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on cholesterol metabolism and the relation of FH to cholesterol homeostasis with special focus on the genetics, diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asier Benito-Vicente
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo.644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Kepa B Uribe
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo.644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Shifa Jebari
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo.644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Unai Galicia-Garcia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo.644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Helena Ostolaza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo.644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Cesar Martin
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo.644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
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Baragetti A, Grejtakova D, Casula M, Olmastroni E, Jotti GS, Norata GD, Catapano AL, Bellosta S. Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin-Kexin type-9 (PCSK9) and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism: Facts and gaps. Pharmacol Res 2018; 130:1-11. [PMID: 29428206 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
After more than a decade of intense investigation, Pro-protein Convertase Subtilisin-Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) remains a hot topic of research both at experimental and clinical level. Interestingly PCSK9 is expressed in different tissues suggesting the existence of additional function(s) beyond the modulation of the Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in the liver. Emerging data suggest that PCSK9 might play a role in the modulation of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TGRL) metabolism, mainly Very Low-Density Lipoproteins (VLDL) and their remnants. In vitro, PCSK9 affects TGRLs production by intestinal cells as well as the catabolism of LDL receptor homologous and non-homologous targets such as VLDL receptor, CD36 and ApoE2R. However, the in vivo relevance of these findings is still debated. This review aims at critically discussing the role of PCSK9 on TGRLs metabolism with a major focus on the impact of its genetic and pharmacological modulation on circulating lipids and lipoproteins beyond LDL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Baragetti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy; S.I.S.A. Center for the Study of Atherosclerosis - Bassini Hospital, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Manuela Casula
- Epidemiology and Preventive Pharmacology Centre (SEFAP), Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Olmastroni
- Epidemiology and Preventive Pharmacology Centre (SEFAP), Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti, 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Gloria Saccani Jotti
- Department of Medicine & Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Danilo Norata
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy; School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Kent St., Bentley Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Alberico L Catapano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy; IRCCS MultiMedica, via Fantoli 16, 20138, Milan, Italy.
| | - Stefano Bellosta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy; IRCCS MultiMedica, via Fantoli 16, 20138, Milan, Italy
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Physiological and therapeutic regulation of PCSK9 activity in cardiovascular disease. Basic Res Cardiol 2017; 112:32. [PMID: 28439730 PMCID: PMC5403857 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-017-0619-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ischemic heart disease is the main cause of death worldwide and is accelerated by increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a potent circulating regulator of LDL-C through its ability to induce degradation of the LDL receptor (LDLR) in the lysosome of hepatocytes. Only in the last few years, a number of breakthroughs in the understanding of PCSK9 biology have been reported illustrating how PCSK9 activity is tightly regulated at several levels by factors influencing its transcription, secretion, or by extracellular inactivation and clearance. Two humanized antibodies directed against the LDLR-binding site in PCSK9 received approval by the European and US authorities and additional PCSK9 directed therapeutics are climbing up the phases of clinical trials. The first outcome data of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab reported a significant reduction in the composite endpoint (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) and further outcome data are awaited. Meanwhile, it became evident that PCSK9 has (patho)physiological roles in several cardiovascular cells. In this review, we summarize and discuss the recent biological and clinical data on PCSK9, the regulation of PCSK9, its extra-hepatic activities focusing on cardiovascular cells, molecular concepts to target PCSK9, and finally briefly summarize the data of recent clinical studies.
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