Apr 7, 2020
PCSK9 enzyme
Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9
It is the ninth member of Subtilisin protease family.
It plays a major regulatory role in cholesterol hemostatsis.
It is an enzyme that binds to low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDL receptors), which stops LDL being removed from the blood, leading to an increase in blood levels of LDL.
The PCSK9 inhibitor [Alirocumab & Evolocumab] blocks the PCSK9 enzyme, resulting in more LDL receptors available to remove LDL from the blood, which produces in a decrease in LDL blood levels.
Impact of PCSK9 inhibitors treatment:
↓ LDL cholesterol (50-60%)
↓ triglycerides (8-20%)
↓ total cholesterol (25-40%)
↑ HDL cholesterol (5-9%)
