(1) Background and purpose: Circulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is one of the key regulators of cholesterol metabolism. Despite this, its role as a player in atherosclerosis development is still matter of debate. Here, we investigated the relationships between this protein and several markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. (2) Methods: The IMPROVE study enrolled 3703 European subjects (54-79 years; 48% men; with ≥3 vascular risk factors), asymptomatic for cardiovascular diseases. PCSK9 levels were measured by ELISA. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure markers of carotid subclinical atherosclerosis. (3) Results: In the crude analysis, PCSK9 levels were associated with several baseline measures of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) (all p < 0.0001); with cIMT change over time (Fastest-IMTmax-progr) (p = 0.01); with inter-adventitia common carotid artery diameter (ICCAD) (p < 0.0001); and with the echolucency (Grey Scale Median; GSM) of both carotid plaque and plaque-free common carotid IMT (both p < 0.0001). However, after adjustment for age, sex, latitude, and pharmacological treatment, all the afore-mentioned correlations were no longer statistically significant. The lack of correlation was also observed after stratification for sex, latitude, and pharmacological treatments. (4) Conclusions: In subjects who are asymptomatic for cardiovascular diseases, PCSK9 plasma levels do not correlate with vascular damage and/or subclinical atherosclerosis of extracranial carotid arteries.
Relationship between circulating PCSK9 and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis—the improve study / D. Coggi, B. Frigerio, A. Bonomi, M. Ruscica, N. Ferri, D. Sansaro, A. Ravani, P. Ferrante, M. Damigella, F. Veglia, N. Capra, M.G. Lupo, C. Macchi, K. Savonen, A. Silveira, S. Kurl, P. Giral, M. Pirro, R.J. Strawbridge, B. Gigante, A.J. Smit, E. Tremoli, M. Amato, D. Baldassarre. - In: BIOMEDICINES. - ISSN 2227-9059. - 9:7(2021 Jul), p. 841.841. [10.3390/biomedicines9070841]
Relationship between circulating PCSK9 and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis—the improve study
D. CoggiPrimo
;M. Ruscica;N. Ferri;C. Macchi;E. Tremoli;D. Baldassarre
Ultimo
2021
Abstract
(1) Background and purpose: Circulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is one of the key regulators of cholesterol metabolism. Despite this, its role as a player in atherosclerosis development is still matter of debate. Here, we investigated the relationships between this protein and several markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. (2) Methods: The IMPROVE study enrolled 3703 European subjects (54-79 years; 48% men; with ≥3 vascular risk factors), asymptomatic for cardiovascular diseases. PCSK9 levels were measured by ELISA. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure markers of carotid subclinical atherosclerosis. (3) Results: In the crude analysis, PCSK9 levels were associated with several baseline measures of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) (all p < 0.0001); with cIMT change over time (Fastest-IMTmax-progr) (p = 0.01); with inter-adventitia common carotid artery diameter (ICCAD) (p < 0.0001); and with the echolucency (Grey Scale Median; GSM) of both carotid plaque and plaque-free common carotid IMT (both p < 0.0001). However, after adjustment for age, sex, latitude, and pharmacological treatment, all the afore-mentioned correlations were no longer statistically significant. The lack of correlation was also observed after stratification for sex, latitude, and pharmacological treatments. (4) Conclusions: In subjects who are asymptomatic for cardiovascular diseases, PCSK9 plasma levels do not correlate with vascular damage and/or subclinical atherosclerosis of extracranial carotid arteries.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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