title: Increased serum PCSK9 concentrations are associated with periodontal infection but do not correlate with LDL cholesterol concentration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontal disease increases the risk of atherothrombotic disease, and high concentrations of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are considered to be involved; however, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Recent studies demonstrated that proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a critical role in circulating LDL cholesterol concentrations. The aim of the present study is to analyze serum PCSK9 concentrations and their relation to lipoprotein concentrations in periodontitis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera were obtained from 40 periodontitis patients and 30 control subjects. PCSK9 concentrations, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-6, TNF-α and Porphyromonas gingivalis antibodies were measured by ELISA, and lipid profiles were determined by a commercial laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periodontitis patients demonstrated significantly higher serum antibody titer to P. gingivalis and hs-CRP concentrations than control subjects, suggesting infection with P. gingivalis and a systemic inflammatory response. PCSK9 concentrations in periodontitis patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects. However, the concentrations of total and LDL cholesterols were not significantly different between periodontitis patients and control subjects. Moreover, no correlations were observed between PCSK9 concentrations and lipid profiles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontal infection upregulates PCSK9 production. However, further studies are required to elucidate how periodontal infection affects PCSK9 concentrations and subsequent lipid metabolism.
authors: Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Niigata University, Chu-o-ku, Niigata, Japan.
authors: Haruna
authors: H
authors: Miyazawa
authors: Tomoyuki
authors: T
authors: Honda
authors: Sayuri
authors: S
authors: Miyauchi
authors: Hisanori
authors: H
authors: Domon
authors: Takafumi
authors: T
authors: Okui
authors: Takako
authors: T
authors: Nakajima
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Tabeta
authors: Kazuhisa
authors: K
authors: Yamazaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000276:immunology; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases / Q000097:blood*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C472125:PCSK9 protein, human; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases