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Short- and long-term effects of Xuezhikang (血脂康), an extract of cholestin, on serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 levels

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the short- and long-term effects of Xuezhikang (血脂康, XZK), an extract of cholestin, on proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) level.

Methods

Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups and were given saline, XZK 1,200 mg/kg or lovastatin 10 mg/kg respectively by daily gavage for 3 days (n=10 for each). Sixteen patients without previous lipid-lowering drug treatment for dyslipidemia received XZK 1,200 mg daily for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples and liver tissue were collected at day 3 for rats, while the blood samples were obtained at baseline and week 8 from patients. The serum PCSK9 and lipid profile were measured. The expression of hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) were measured by real time-PCR.

Results

PCSK9 levels in rats were significantly increased in the XZK and lovastatin groups (P=0.002, P=0.003 vs. control) at day 3, while no significant differences were found in the levels of lipid parameters. PCSK9 levels in patients increased by 34% (P=0.006 vs. baseline) accompanied by total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol decreased by 22% and 28% P=0.001, P=0.002 vs. baseline). The hepatic mRNA levels of LDL-receptor and SREBP-2 were significantly increased in the XZK and lovastatin groups.

Conclusion

XZK has significant impact on PCSK9 in a short- and long-term manner in both rats and humans. Moreover, the data indicated that as lovastatin, XZK increased PCSK9 levels through SREBP-2 pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China

    Yan-jun Jia  (贾燕珺), Yan Zhang  (张 彦), Jun Liu  (刘 俊), Yuan-lin Guo  (郭远林), Rui-xia Xu  (徐瑞霞) & Jian-jun Li  (李建军)

Authors
  1. Yan-jun Jia  (贾燕珺)
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  2. Yan Zhang  (张 彦)
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  3. Jun Liu  (刘 俊)
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  4. Yuan-lin Guo  (郭远林)
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  5. Rui-xia Xu  (徐瑞霞)
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  6. Jian-jun Li  (李建军)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian-jun Li  (李建军).

Additional information

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81070171 and 81241121), Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (No. 20111106110013), Fund of Capital Special Foundation of Clinical Application Research (No. Z121107001012015)

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Jia, Yj., Zhang, Y., Liu, J. et al. Short- and long-term effects of Xuezhikang (血脂康), an extract of cholestin, on serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 levels. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 22, 96–100 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1846-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1846-y

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