Circulating Rather Than Intestinal PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9) Regulates Postprandial Lipemia in Mice.

OBJECTIVE:Increased postprandial lipemia (PPL) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. PCSK9 (Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9) is an endogenous inhibitor of the LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor) pathway. We previously showed that PCSK9 inhibition in mice reduces PPL. However, the relative contribution of intracellular intestinal PCSK9 or liver-derived circulating PCSK9 to this effect is still unclear. Approach and Results: To address this issue, we generated the first intestine-specific Pcsk9-deficient (i-Pcsk9^-/-) mouse model. PPL was measured in i-Pcsk9^-/- as well as in wild-type and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice following treatment with a PCSK9 monoclonal antibody (alirocumab). Blocking the circulating form of PCSK9 with alirocumab significantly reduced PPL, while overexpressing human PCSK9 in the liver of full Pcsk9^-/- mice had the opposite effect. Alirocumab regulated PPL in a LDLR-dependent manner as this effect was abolished in Ldlr^-/- mice. In contrast, i-Pcsk9^-/- mice did not exhibit alterations in plasma lipid parameters nor in PPL. Finally, PPL was highly exacerbated by streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in Pcsk9^+/+ but not in Pcsk9^-/- mice, an effect that was mimicked by the use of alirocumab in streptozotocin-treated Pcsk9^+/+ mice. CONCLUSIONS:Taken together, our data demonstrate that PPL is significantly altered by full but not intestinal PCSK9 deficiency. Treatment with a PCSK9 monoclonal antibody mimics the effect of PCSK9 deficiency on PPL suggesting that circulating PCSK9 rather than intestinal PCSK9 is a critical regulator of PPL. These data validate the clinical relevance of PCSK9 inhibitors to reduce PPL, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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