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Hummelgaard S, Vilstrup JP, Gustafsen C, Glerup S, Weyer K. Targeting PCSK9 to tackle cardiovascular disease. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 249:108480. [PMID: 37331523 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Lowering blood cholesterol levels efficiently reduces the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including coronary artery disease (CAD), which is the main cause of death worldwide. CAD is caused by plaque formation, comprising cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin/type 9 (PCSK9) was discovered in the early 2000s and later identified as a key regulator of cholesterol metabolism. PCSK9 induces lysosomal degradation of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in the liver, which is responsible for clearing LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) from the circulation. Accordingly, gain-of-function PCSK9 mutations are causative of familial hypercholesterolemia, a severe condition with extremely high plasma cholesterol levels and increased ASCVD risk, whereas loss-of-function PCSK9 mutations are associated with very low LDL-C levels and protection against CAD. Since the discovery of PCSK9, extensive investigations in developing PCSK9 targeting therapies have been performed. The combined delineation of clear biology, genetic risk variants, and PCSK9 crystal structures have been major drivers in developing antagonistic molecules. Today, two antibody-based PCSK9 inhibitors have successfully progressed to clinical application and shown to be effective in reducing cholesterol levels and mitigating the risk of ASCVD events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and death, without any major adverse effects. A third siRNA-based inhibitor has been FDA-approved but awaits cardiovascular outcome data. In this review, we outline the PCSK9 biology, focusing on the structure and nonsynonymous mutations reported in the PCSK9 gene and elaborate on PCSK9-lowering strategies under development. Finally, we discuss future perspectives with PCSK9 inhibition in other severe disorders beyond cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Simon Glerup
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Draupnir Bio, INCUBA Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kathrin Weyer
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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2
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Abstract
Autosomal dominant familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) affects approximately 1/250, individuals and potentially leads to elevated blood cholesterol and a significantly increased risk of atherosclerosis. Along with improvements in detection and the increased early diagnosis and treatment, the serious burden of FH on families and society has become increasingly apparent. Since FH is strongly associated with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), increasing numbers of studies have focused on finding effective diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on PCSK9. At present, as PCSK9 is one of the main pathogenic FH genes, its contribution to FH deserves more explorative research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyun Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Clinical Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xunxun Feng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Clinical Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease, Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Clinical Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Disease, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Sarkar SK, Foo ACY, Matyas A, Asikhia I, Kosenko T, Goto NK, Vergara-Jaque A, Lagace TA. A transient amphipathic helix in the prodomain of PCSK9 facilitates binding to low-density lipoprotein particles. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2285-2298. [PMID: 31949048 PMCID: PMC7039556 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK9) is a ligand of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) that promotes LDLR degradation in late endosomes/lysosomes. In human plasma, 30–40% of PCSK9 is bound to LDL particles; however, the physiological significance of this interaction remains unknown. LDL binding in vitro requires a disordered N-terminal region in PCSK9's prodomain. Here, we report that peptides corresponding to a predicted amphipathic α-helix in the prodomain N terminus adopt helical structure in a membrane-mimetic environment. This effect was greatly enhanced by an R46L substitution representing an atheroprotective PCSK9 loss-of-function mutation. A helix-disrupting proline substitution within the putative α-helical motif in full-length PCSK9 lowered LDL binding affinity >5-fold. Modeling studies suggested that the transient α-helix aligns multiple polar residues to interact with positively charged residues in the C-terminal domain. Gain-of-function PCSK9 mutations associated with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and clustered at the predicted interdomain interface (R469W, R496W, and F515L) inhibited LDL binding, which was completely abolished in the case of the R496W variant. These findings shed light on allosteric conformational changes in PCSK9 required for high-affinity binding to LDL particles. Moreover, the initial identification of FH-associated mutations that diminish PCSK9's ability to bind LDL reported here supports the notion that PCSK9-LDL association in the circulation inhibits PCSK9 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha K Sarkar
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Alexander C Y Foo
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Angela Matyas
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Ikhuosho Asikhia
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Tanja Kosenko
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Natalie K Goto
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Ariela Vergara-Jaque
- Center for Bioinformatics and Molecular Simulation, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile; Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-associated Diseases (MiNICAD), 3460000 Talca, Chile
| | - Thomas A Lagace
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada.
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Sánchez-Hernández RM, Di Taranto MD, Benito-Vicente A, Uribe KB, Lamiquiz-Moneo I, Larrea-Sebal A, Jebari S, Galicia-Garcia U, Nóvoa FJ, Boronat M, Wägner AM, Civeira F, Martín C, Fortunato G. The Arg499His gain-of-function mutation in the C-terminal domain of PCSK9. Atherosclerosis 2019; 289:162-172. [PMID: 31518966 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a monogenic disease characterized by high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. FH is caused by loss of function mutations in genes encoding LDL receptor (LDLR), and Apolipoprotein B (APOB) or gain of function (GOF) mutations in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). In this study, we identified a novel variant in PCSK9, p.(Arg499His), located in the C-terminal domain, in two unrelated FH patients from Spain and Italy. METHODS We studied familial segregation and determined variant activity in vitro. RESULTS We determined PCSK9 expression, secretion and activity of the variant in transfected HEK293 cells; extracellular activity of the recombinant p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant in HEK 293 and HepG2 cells; PCSK9 affinity to the LDL receptor at neutral and acidic pH; the mechanism of action of the p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant by co-transfection with a soluble construct of the LDL receptor and by determining total PCSK9 intracellular accumulation when endosomal acidification is impaired and when an excess of soluble LDLr is present in the culture medium. Our results show high LDL-C concentrations and FH phenotype in p.(Arg499His) carriers. In vitro functional characterization shows that p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant causes a reduction in LDLr expression and LDL uptake. An intracellular activity for this variant is also shown when blocking the activity of secreted PCSK9 and by inhibiting endosomal acidification. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant causes a direct intracellular degradation of LDLr therefore causing FH by reducing LDLr availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M Sánchez-Hernández
- Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS) de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Maria Donata Di Taranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli and CEINGE S.C.a r.l, Biotecnologie Avanzate, Napoli, Italy
| | - Asier Benito-Vicente
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Kepa B Uribe
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Itziar Lamiquiz-Moneo
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet. IIS Aragon. CIBERCV. Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Asier Larrea-Sebal
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Shifa Jebari
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Unai Galicia-Garcia
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - F Javier Nóvoa
- Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS) de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Mauro Boronat
- Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS) de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Ana M Wägner
- Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS) de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Fernando Civeira
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet. IIS Aragon. CIBERCV. Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - César Martín
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Giuliana Fortunato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli and CEINGE S.C.a r.l, Biotecnologie Avanzate, Napoli, Italy.
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Di Taranto MD, Benito-Vicente A, Giacobbe C, Uribe KB, Rubba P, Etxebarria A, Guardamagna O, Gentile M, Martín C, Fortunato G. Identification and in vitro characterization of two new PCSK9 Gain of Function variants found in patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15282. [PMID: 29127338 PMCID: PMC5681505 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15543-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by pathogenic variants in genes encoding for LDL receptor (LDLR), Apolipoprotein B and Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Among PCSK9 variants, only Gain-of- Function (GOF) variants lead to FH. Greater attention should be paid to the classification of variants as pathogenic. Two hundred sixty nine patients with a clinical suspect of FH were screened for variants in LDLR and the patients without pathogenic variants were screened for variants in PCSK9 and APOB. Functional characterization of PCSK9 variants was performed by assessment of protein secretion, of LDLR activity in presence of PCSK9 variant proteins as well as of the LDLR affinity of the PCSK9 variants. Among 81 patients without pathogenic variants in LDLR, 7 PCSK9 heterozygotes were found, 4 of whom were carriers of variants whose role in FH pathogenesis is still unknown. Functional characterization revealed that two variants (p.(Ser636Arg) and p.(Arg357Cys)) were GOF variants. In Conclusions, we demonstrated a GOF effect of 2 PCSK9 variants that can be considered as FH-causative variants. The study highlights the important role played by functional characterization in integrating diagnostic procedures when the pathogenicity of new variants has not been previously demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Donata Di Taranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli and CEINGE S.C.a r.l. Biotecnologie Avanzate, Napoli, Italy
| | - Asier Benito-Vicente
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Carola Giacobbe
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli and CEINGE S.C.a r.l. Biotecnologie Avanzate, Napoli, Italy
| | - Kepa Belloso Uribe
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Paolo Rubba
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Aitor Etxebarria
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ornella Guardamagna
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Sanità Pubblica e Pediatriche, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Gentile
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Cesar Martín
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Giuliana Fortunato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli and CEINGE S.C.a r.l. Biotecnologie Avanzate, Napoli, Italy.
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