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Analysis of the association between plasma PCSK9 and Lp(a) in Han Chinese

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Abstract

Purpose

It has been reported that proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors can significantly reduce lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and the mechanism for Lp(a) reduction remains unclear. Recently an interesting clinical research with a small sample showed a positive correlation between plasma PCSK9 and Lp(a) levels in diabetes. Here we aimed to use a relatively large sample to investigate whether such an association exists in Han Chinese.

Methods

A total of 783 inpatients were consecutively enrolled and composed of 172 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 611 non-T2DM subjects. Plasma PCSK9 level was measured by ELISA, and its association with Lp(a) was assayed by Spearman’s correlation and multiple regression. Clinical and biochemical parameters were determined in all subjects studied.

Results

No significant differences in PCSK9 and Lp(a) levels were found between T2DM and non-T2DM patients. PCSK9 level was not related to Lp(a) level either in T2DM or non-T2DM group in bivariate correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. Additionally, no association between the levels of PCSK9 and Lp(a) was found in well, poorly controlled T2DM patients or in T2DM patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD). Besides, no difference was found among the PCSK9 values across tertiles of Lp(a) level.

Conclusion

We found no association of plasma PCSK9 levels with Lp(a) level in Han Chinese with or without T2DM, suggesting that Lp(a) reduction by PCSK9 inhibitors may not be achieved simply through PCSK9 pathway at least in Chinese.

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Abbreviations

PCSK9:

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9

Lp(a):

Lipoprotein(a)

T2DM:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

ASCVD:

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

LDL-C:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

TG:

Triglycerides

LDL-R:

Low-density lipoprotein receptor

Apo:

Apolipoprotein

Hs-CRP:

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein

BMI:

Body mass index

OADs:

Oral anti-diabetic drugs

HbA1c:

Glycated hemoglobin

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81070171, 81241121), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20111106110013), the Capital Special Foundation of Clinical Application Research (Z121107001012015), the Capital Health Development Fund (2011400302), and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7131014) awarded to Dr. Jian-Jun Li, MD, PhD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, BeiLiShi Road 167, Beijing, 100037, China

    S.-H. Yang, S. Li, Y. Zhang, R.-X. Xu, C.-G. Zhu, Y.-L. Guo, N.-Q. Wu, P. Qing, Y. Gao, C.-J. Cui, Q. Dong, J. Sun & J.-J. Li

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  1. S.-H. Yang
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Correspondence to J.-J. Li.

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Yang, SH., Li, S., Zhang, Y. et al. Analysis of the association between plasma PCSK9 and Lp(a) in Han Chinese. J Endocrinol Invest 39, 875–883 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0433-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0433-9

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