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 …