Metabolites (May 2022)

Circulating PCSK9 Linked to Dyslipidemia in Lebanese Schoolchildren

  • Yara Azar,
  • Marie-Hélène Gannagé-Yared,
  • Elie Naous,
  • Carine Ayoub,
  • Yara Abou Khalil,
  • Elise Chahine,
  • Sandy Elbitar,
  • Youmna Ghaleb,
  • Catherine Boileau,
  • Mathilde Varret,
  • Petra El Khoury,
  • Marianne Abifadel

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12060504
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 6
p. 504

Abstract

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In adults, elevated levels of circulating Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) have been associated with increased Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and worse cardiovascular outcomes. However, few studies analyzed the relation between PCSK9 and lipid parameters in pediatric populations. The aim of our study is to evaluate the distribution and the correlation of serum PCSK9 levels with lipid parameters in a sample of Lebanese school children. Using an immunofluorescence assay, we measured serum PCSK9 levels in 681 school children recruited from ten public and private Lebanese schools. We analyzed the association between PCSK9 and age, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), and lipid parameters (total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, TG, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-C, and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)). Serum PCSK9 levels were significantly correlated with TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C (p value p values = 0.0012, 0.0002, 0.001, respectively). No significant gender differences in PCSK9 were found. In addition, no significant associations between PCSK9 and both age and BMI percentiles were observed. In girls, no difference in PCSK9 values was observed according to menarche while in boys, testosterone levels were not significantly associated with PCSK9. Serum PCSK9 levels were significantly correlated with TC, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C levels. Further studies are needed to find if PCSK9 measurements have an additional value to predict future cardiovascular outcomes in pediatric populations.

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