title: Plasma PCSK9 levels correlate with cholesterol in men but not in women.
abstract: Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin-like 9 (PCSK9) is a secreted glycoprotein that negatively regulates low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) levels. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PCSK9 have been linked to autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia (ADH). Conversely, hypocholesterolemia associates with both 'loss of function' nonsense and missense SNPs in PCSK9. We examined the association of plasma PCSK9 with lipoprotein parameters in 182 normolipidemics. For men (n=98) plasma PCSK9 averaged 6.08+/-1.96 microg/ml and Spearman analysis revealed significant correlation between it and total cholesterol (TC), LDLC, and TC/high density lipoprotein (HDLC) (r=0.276, 0.282, and 0.228, respectively). For women (n=84) plasma PCSK9 averaged 6.46+/-1.99 microg/ml having no correlation with TC, LDLC or TC/HDLC. The ratio of plasma PCSK9/LDLC increased in men carrying 'loss of function' PCSK9 variations. Our results suggest a gender difference in PCSK9 regulation and function with PCSK9 correlated to TC and LDLC in men but not women.
authors.affiliation: Hormones, Growth and Development Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. jmayne@ohri.ca
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayne
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cousins
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaefer
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gyamera-Acheampong
authors.forename: Nabil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Seidah
authors.forename: Majambu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mbikay
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrétien
authors.forename: Teik Chye
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ooi
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; C472125:PCSK9 protein, human; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases