title: The Central Role of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 in Septic Pathogen Lipid Transport and Clearance.
abstract: Microbial cell walls contain pathogenic lipids, including LPS in gram-negative bacteria, lipoteichoic acid in gram-positive bacteria, and phospholipomannan in fungi. These pathogen lipids are major ligands for innate immune receptors and figure prominently in triggering the septic inflammatory response. Alternatively, pathogen lipids can be cleared and inactivated, thus limiting the inflammatory response. Accordingly, biological mechanisms for sequestering and clearing pathogen lipids from the circulation have evolved. Pathogen lipids released into the circulation are initially bound by transfer proteins, notably LPS binding protein and phospholipid transfer protein, and incorporated into high-density lipoprotein particles. Next, LPS binding protein, phospholipid transfer protein, and other transfer proteins transfer these lipids to ApoB-containing lipoproteins, including low-density (LDL) and very-low-density lipoproteins and chylomicrons. Pathogen lipids within these lipoproteins and their remnants are then cleared from the circulation by the liver. Hepatic clearance involves the LDL receptor (LDLR) and possibly other receptors. Once absorbed by the liver, these lipids are then excreted in the bile. Recent evidence suggests pathogen lipid clearance can be modulated. Importantly, reduced proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 activity increases recycling of the LDLR and thereby increases LDLR on the surface of hepatocytes, which increases clearance by the liver of pathogen lipids transported in LDL. Increased pathogen lipid clearance, which can be achieved by inhibiting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, may decrease the systemic inflammatory response to sepsis and improve clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Walley
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Gordon A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: 2 Infectious Disease Division, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island and Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; and.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Opal
authors.affiliation: 3 Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Evan A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D043484:Proprotein Convertases / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000097:blood; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*; D013381:Subtilisins / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D013381:Subtilisins; C058751:KEX2 protein, S cerevisiae
keywords: LPS; lipoteichoic acid; low-density lipoprotein; proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9; sepsis