Technical Articles

PCSK9 is primarily synthesized and secreted by the liver as a serine protease, playing a crucial role in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis. PCSK9 elevates LDL-C levels by inhibiting circulating LDLR, competitively binding to LDLR on the surface of hepatocytes to form a PCSK9/LDLR complex. This complex is then transported into the cell via vesicles and degraded by lysosomes, leading to increased plasma LDL-C levels.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, as a key molecule regulating cholesterol metabolism, has garnered significant attention in recent years.