出版社:American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
摘要:Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a proteasethat regulates low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) proteinlevels. The mechanisms of this action, however, remain to bedefined. We show here that recombinant human PCSK9 expressedin HEK293 cells was readily secreted into the medium, with theprosegment associated with the C-terminal domain. Secreted PCSK9mediated cell surface LDLR degradation in a concentration- andtime-dependent manner when added to HEK293 cells. Accordingly,cellular LDL uptake was significantly reduced as well. Wheninfused directly into C57B6 mice, purified human PCSK9 substantiallyreduced hepatic LDLR protein levels and resulted in increasedplasma LDL cholesterol. When added to culture medium, fluorescentlylabeled PCSK9 was endocytosed and displayed endosomal-lysosomalintracellular localization in HepG2 cells, as was demonstratedby colocalization with DiI-LDL. PCSK9 endocytosis was mediatedby LDLR as LDLR deficiency (hepatocytes from LDLR null mice),or RNA interference-mediated knockdown of LDLR markedly reducedPCSK9 endocytosis. In addition, RNA interference knockdown ofthe autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) gene productalso significantly reduced PCSK9 endocytosis. Biochemical analysisrevealed that the LDLR extracellular domain interacted directlywith secreted PCSK9; thus, overexpression of the LDLR extracellulardomain was able to attenuate the reduction of cell surface LDLRlevels by secreted PCSK9. Together, these results reveal thatsecreted PCSK9 retains biological activity, is able to binddirectly to the LDLR extracellular domain, and undergoes LDLR-ARH-mediatedendocytosis, leading to accelerated intracellular degradationof the LDLR.Supplementary key words proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9