title: Human Serum PCSK9 Is Elevated at Parturition in Comparison to Nonpregnant Subjects While Serum PCSK9 from Umbilical Cord Blood is Lower Compared to Maternal Blood.
abstract: Background. Serum lipids including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are increased in pregnancy. Serum proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) is a significant player in lipoprotein metabolism. Circulating PCSK9 downregulates the LDL receptor on the surface of the liver, inhibiting clearance of LDL-C. Therefore, our study assessed serum PCSK9 concentrations at parturition (Maternal) compared to a nonpregnant (Control) cohort, as well as between mother and newborn (Maternal and Newborn). Methods. Blood was collected from women at parturition and from umbilical cords. Serum lipids and PCSK9 were measured and data were analysed for significance by Mann-Whitney U test at P < 0.05 and presented as median levels. Spearman's correlations were made at a 95% confidence interval. Results. Serum PCSK9 was significantly higher in Maternal versus Control cohorts (493.1 versus 289.7 ng/mL; P < 0.001, resp.), while the Newborn cohort was significantly lower than Maternal (278.2 versus 493.1 ng/mL; P < 0.0001, resp.). PCSK9 was significantly correlated with TC and HDL-C in Maternal and with TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C in Newborn cohorts. Conclusions. Our study provides the first quantitative report on PCSK9 in pregnancy (at parturition) and in umbilical cord blood. Further research will determine how these changes may affect lipoprotein levels during this physiological state.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Laboratory, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus, University of Ottawa, 1967 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1H 7W9.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peticca
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Andrée
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruslin
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cousins
authors.forename: Ejibunmi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adetola
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abujrad
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayne
authors.forename: Teik Chye
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ooi