Figure 1.

Increased PCSK9 Levels Are Associated With Age-Related Cardiovascular Dysfunction

Human study (top). (A) Study design. (B) Box plots for plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels, left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), and LV mass index values. Statistics: for PCSK9 and GLS, Mann-Whitney U test; for LV mass index, Student’s unpaired t test. (C) Network from the iNetModels database. (D) Correlation of PCSK9 levels with LV GLS and LV mass index. (E) Representative speckle-tracking strain analyses from the study groups. Translational animal model (bottom, with study design). (F) Serum PCSK9 levels (Student’s unpaired t test). Scattered dot plots show mean ± SEM. Correlation of PCSK9 levels with functional parameters derived from (G) pressure-volume (PV) analysis and echocardiography. ∗P < .05, ∗∗P < .01, ∗∗∗P < .001. −dP/dt = minimal slope of maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rise; DT = deceleration time; ESPVR = end-systolic pressure-volume relationship; IVRT = isovolumic relaxation time; LSr = longitudinal strain rate; LSrE = longitudinal strain rate E-wave; PRSW = preload recruitable stroke work; Tau_Weiss = left ventricular diastolic time constant.