title: Positive correlation of plasma PCSK9 levels with HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been demonstrated to be involved in not only lipid metabolism but also glucose homeostasis. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) is a 'gold standard' for monitoring long-term glycaemic control. However, the correlation of plasma PCSK9 levels with HbA1c remains undetermined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We consecutively enrolled 805 subjects undergoing coronary angiography, including 176 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 629 non-diabetic patients. The baseline characteristics were collected, and serum PCSK9 level was assessed by ELISA. Univariable regression analysis and multiple-variable regression analysis were used to examine the associations of PCSK9 with HbA1c . Furthermore, the HbA1c was compared across the tertiles of PCSK9 levels. And also, PCSK9 levels were compared in poorly controlled (HbA1c  ≥ 7.0%) and well-controlled (HbA1c  < 7.0%) patients with T2DM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCSK9 levels were positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both T2DM and non-T2DM. Univariable regression analysis revealed a positive association between PCSK9 and HbA1c in patients with T2DM (β = 0.255, p = 0.001) but not in patients without diabetes (β = 0.061, p = 0.128). Multiple-variable regression analysis exhibited that PCSK9 was independently correlated with HbA1c in T2DM after adjustment for traditional atherosclerotic risk factors (β = 0.197, p = 0.020). Moreover, HbA1c level was higher in patients with the highest tertile of PCSK9 than that in the lowest tertile (p = 0.042). Additionally, higher levels of PCSK9 were found in poorly controlled group compared with the well-controlled group (p = 0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data suggest a positive correlation of PCSK9 levels with HbA1c in patients with T2DM but not in patients without T2DM, indicating a potential role of PCSK9 in T2DM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Xia
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Na-Qiong
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Chuan-Jue
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human; C472125:PCSK9 protein, human
keywords: HbA1c; PCSK9; diabetes mellitus; glycated haemoglobin; proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9