A cholesterol-lowering VLP vaccine that targets PCSK9

E Crossey, MJA Amar, M Sampson, J Peabody… - Vaccine, 2015 - Elsevier
E Crossey, MJA Amar, M Sampson, J Peabody, JT Schiller, B Chackerian, AT Remaley
Vaccine, 2015Elsevier
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a secretory protein that controls
cholesterol homeostasis by enhancing endosomal and lysosomal degradation of the low-
density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R). Mutations that cause increased activity of PCSK9 are
associated with hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and early cardiovascular disease
(CVD), whereas individuals with loss-of-function mutations in PCSK9 are apparently healthy
but are hypocholesterolemic and have a dramatically decreased risk of CVD. In this study …
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a secretory protein that controls cholesterol homeostasis by enhancing endosomal and lysosomal degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R). Mutations that cause increased activity of PCSK9 are associated with hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and early cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereas individuals with loss-of-function mutations in PCSK9 are apparently healthy but are hypocholesterolemic and have a dramatically decreased risk of CVD. In this study, we generated virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines targeting PCSK9. Mice and macaques vaccinated with bacteriophage VLPs displaying PCSK9-derived peptides developed high titer IgG antibodies that bound to circulating PCSK9. Vaccination was associated with significant reductions in total cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides. A vaccine targeting PCSK9 may, therefore, be an attractive alternative to monoclonal antibody-based therapies.
Elsevier