title: The unique role of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 in cholesterol homeostasis.
abstract: The LDL receptor (LDLR) plays an essential role in the regulation of plasma (LDL) cholesterol concentrations by virtue of its ability to clear plasma LDL. Down-regulation of the LDLR by proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) has recently emerged as a regulatory mechanism that controls plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations. Studies in which PCSK9 is over-expressed in mice, have demonstrated that PCSK9, by enhancing hepatic LDLR degradation, decreases the availability of the LDLR for LDL uptake, resulting in increased plasma LDL cholesterol levels. However, PCSK9 has also recently been shown to mediate down-regulation of surface receptors other than the LDLR, suggesting that it may have much broader roles than initially thought.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Berge
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Leren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011973:Receptors, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; C472125:PCSK9 protein, human; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases