Aim: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a key regulator of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, and sortilin is linked to lipoprotein metabolism. Although statin therapy increases PCSK9 levels, effects of this therapy on plasma sortilin levels have not been evaluated. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of statins on plasma PCSK9 and sortilin levels, and association of statin-induced increase in PCSK9 levels with sortilin.
Methods: Serum lipid levels and plasma PCSK9 and sortilin levels were measured at baseline and 8 months after statin therapy in 90 statin-naive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Pitavastatin 4 mg/day was used to treat 44 patients and pravastatin 20 mg/day to treat the remaining 46 patients.
Results: For both statin groups, significant increases in hetero-dimer PCSK9 levels (pitavastatin: 31%, p＜0.0001; pravastatin: 34%, p=0.03) and decreases in sortilin levels (pitavastatin: －8%, p=0.02; pravastatin: －16%, p=0.002) were observed. Although a reduction in LDL cholesterol was greater in the pitavastatin group than in the pravastatin group, no significant differences were observed in percentage changes in hetero-dimer PCSK9 and sortilin levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between percentage changes in hetero-dimer PCSK9 levels and those in sortilin levels (pitavastatin: r=0.359, p=0.02; pravastatin: r=0.276, p=0.06).
Conclusions: Use of pitavastatin and pravastatin increased plasma PCSK9 and decreased sortilin levels. Statin-induced increases in PCSK9 were associated with changes in sortilin in statin-naive patients with CAD.