This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Persson, L. Articles by Rudling, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Persson, L. Articles by Rudling, M. Pubmed/NCBI databases Gene GEO Profiles HomoloGene Protein UniGene Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Diets Hormones Hazardous Substances DB ETHINYLESTRADIOL GLUCAGON

Importance of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 in the Hormonal and Dietary Regulation of Rat Liver Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptors

Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes and Molecular Nutrition Unit, Departments of Medicine and Biosciences, and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Mats Rudling, M.D., Ph.D., M63, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: mats.rudling{at}ki.se.

Hormonal or dietary challenge can stimulate hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression through posttranscriptional mechanisms. We here tested whether such observations may be due to regulation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Treatment with glucagon resulted in a 2-fold increase in hepatic LDLR protein expression, whereas its mRNA levels were reduced; this occurred simultaneously with a 70% reduction in PCSK9 expression. Insulin treatment resulted in responses opposite to those seen by treatment with glucagon. Furthermore, high-dose ethinylestradiol treatment reduced PCSK9 expression by half. Finally, feeding of rats with dietary cholesterol reduced PCSK9 expression, resulting in an increased number of hepatic LDLRs despite a reduction of LDLR mRNA levels. Regulation of PCSK9 occurred in part through sterol regulatory element binding protein-2, but changes in this cholesterol-controlled transcription factor could not explain all hormonal effects seen. We conclude that the hormonal and dietary regulation of hepatic LDLRs also involves posttranscriptional regulation by PCSK9. The identification of PCSK9 regulation by these various treatments is important in understanding of the physiological function of this protein and points to new targets for therapeutic treatments to increase hepatic LDLR numbers.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Baass, G. Dubuc, M. Tremblay, E. E. Delvin, J. O'Loughlin, E. Levy, J. Davignon, and M. Lambert Plasma PCSK9 Is Associated with Age, Sex, and Multiple Metabolic Markers in a Population-Based Sample of Children and Adolescents Clin. Chem., September 1, 2009; 55(9): 1637 - 1645. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]