ABO blood group in relation to plasma lipids and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a newly-identified member that plays an essential role in cholesterol homeostasis and holds decent promise for hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease (CAD) treatment. However, the determining factors of PCSK9 are not well-characterized. It is well established that ABO blood group is associated with cholesterol metabolism. Therefore, the relationship between ABO blood groups and plasma PCSK9 level was examined.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

A group of 507 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic or interventional coronary angiography were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The baseline clinical characteristics were collected, and the plasma PCSK9 levels were determined using ELISA. As a result, subjects of non-O type had higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non high density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHDL-C), apolipoprotein B (apo B), and PCSK9 compared with that of O type (p < 0.05, all). PCSK9 levels were significantly and positively related to TC, LDL, NHDL-C, and apo B (r = 0.253, p < 0.001; r = 0.262, p < 0.001; r = 0.215, p < 0.001; r = 0.187, p < 0.001; respectively). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that ABO group was significantly and independently associated with PCSK9 level (β = 7.91, p = 0.009). Additionally, mediation analysis indicated that ≈8%-19% of the effect of ABO blood group on PCSK9 levels was mediated by TC, LDL-C or NHDL-C levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data firstly suggested that the ABO blood group might be a significant determinant factor for plasma PCSK9 level. It is also possible that the observed association between PCSK9 and ABO blood group might be in part involved in their CAD susceptibility.

• Authors: Sha Li, Rui-Xia Xu, Yuan-Lin Guo, Yan Zhang, Cheng-Gang Zhu, Jing Sun, Jian-Jun Li
• Journal: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis) Vol. 25 Issue 4 Pg. 411-7 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1590-3729 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 25466598 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• ABO Blood-Group System
• Apolipoproteins B
• Cholesterol, HDL
• Cholesterol, LDL
• PCSK9 protein, human
• Proprotein Convertase 9
• Proprotein Convertases
• Serine Endopeptidases

Topics

• ABO Blood-Group System (blood)
• Aged
• Apolipoproteins B (blood)
• Body Mass Index
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Coronary Artery Disease (blood, diagnosis)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperlipidemias (blood, diagnosis)
• Lipid Metabolism
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Proprotein Convertase 9
• Proprotein Convertases (blood)
• Serine Endopeptidases (blood)