Journal
JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH
Volume 51, Issue 11, Pages 3359-3363Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1194/jlr.P009860
Keywords
PCSK9; cholesterol synthesis; LDL-cholesterol
Categories
Funding
- University of Texas Southwestern [UL1RR024982, 5UL1DE019584]
- TORS Human Biology Core [5PL1DK081183]
- TORS Molecular and Metabolic Mouse Phenotyping Core [5PL1DK081182]
- Perot Family Foundation
- National Institutes of Health [5RL1DK-081187, 1K23DK-074396, HL-20948]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Proprotein convertase, subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a key regulator of plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) and cardiovascular risk, is produced in liver and secreted into plasma where it binds hepatic LDL receptors (LDLR), leading to their degradation. PCSK9 is transcriptionally activated by sterol response element-binding protein (SREBP)-2, a transcription factor that also activates all genes for cholesterol synthesis as well as the LDLR. Here we investigated the relationship between plasma PCSK9 levels and the lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratio, a marker of cholesterol biosynthesis, in 18 healthy subjects during a 48 h fast. In all individuals, plasma PCSK9 levels declined steadily during the fasting period, reaching a nadir at 36 h that was similar to 58% lower than levels measured in the fed state (P < 0.001). Similarly, the lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratio declined in parallel with plasma PCSK9 concentrations during the fast, reaching a nadir at 36 h that was similar to 28% lower than that measured in the fed state (P = 0.024). In summary, fasting has a marked effect on plasma PCSK9 concentrations, which is mirrored by measures of cholesterol synthesis in humans. Inasmuch as cholesterol synthesis and PCSK9 are both regulated by SREBP-2, these results suggest that plasma PCSK9 levels may serve as a surrogate marker of hepatic SREBP-2 activity in humans.-Browning, J. D., and J. D. Horton. Fasting reduces plasma proprotein convertase, subtilisin/kexin type 9, and cholesterol biosynthesis in humans. J. Lipid Res. 2010. 51: 3359-3363
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available