title: Proprotein convertase furin/PCSK3 and atherosclerosis: New insights and potential therapeutic targets.
abstract: Furin, a member of the mammalian proprotein convertases family, can promote the proteolytic maturation of proproteins. It is known that furin is predominantly present in certain cell types of human atherosclerotic lesions and neointima in animal models, including vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and mononuclear inflammatory cells. Evidence suggests that furin participates in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis through regulation of lipid and cholesterol metabolism, inflammatory response, blood pressure and the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. This review provides a panorama of the roles of furin in atherosclerosis and the insights into the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China; Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Key Laboratory for Atherosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, The University of Calgary, Health Sciences Center, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1 Canada.
authors.forename: Xi-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China. Electronic address: zzhcsu@163.com.
authors.forename: Guo-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D045683:Furin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; C468731:FURIN protein, human; D045683:Furin
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Furin; Inflammation; Lipid metabolism