Table 2. Baseline mean values and correlation analyses between baseline values and baseline PCSK9 concentrations.
| Parameter | Mean ± SD | Spearman’s rho | P value |
| Anthropometric and clinical parameters | |||
| Age (years) | 31.5±9.2 | 0.19 | 0.12 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 25.7±3.2 | 0.06 | 0.61 |
| Body fat (%) | 21.3±5.6 | 0.03 | 0.80 |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate (mL/min) | 135±25 | 0.06 | 0.49 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (mU/L) | 1.65±0.82 | –0.11 | 0.34 |
| High-sensitivity CRP (mg/L) | 0.75±0.93 | –0.01 | 0.92 |
| Lipoproteins | |||
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 189±35 | 0.13 | 0.28 |
| LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 111±30 | 0.10 | 0.39 |
| HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 64±15 | 0.30 | 0.01* |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 95±43 | –0.16 | 0.18 |
| Glucose metabolism and adipokines | |||
| Fasting glucose (mg/dL) | 88±8 | 0.05 | 0.70 |
| Fasting insulin (mU/L) | 9.9±8.4 | 0.04 | 0.71 |
| HOMA index† | 2.2±1.8 | 0.07 | 0.57 |
| Leptin (µg/mL) | 3.0±2.8 | 0.08 | 0.52 |
| High-molecular weight adiponectin (µg/mL) | 2.7±2.0 | 0.18 | 0.13 |
| Non-cholesterol sterols | |||
| Lathosterol** | 138±40 | –0.24 | 0.04* |
| Desmosterol** | 71±14 | –0.20 | 0.09* |
| Cholestenol** | 12.8±4.5 | –0.25 | 0.03* |
| Cholestanol** | 145±28 | 0.13 | 0.26 |
| Sitosterol** | 126±43 | 0.10 | 0.39 |
| Campesterol** | 208±83 | 0.13 | 0.29 |
| Campesterol/lathosterol (mg/mg) | 1.75±1.33 | 0.21 | 0.08* |
| Molecular markers of cholesterol metabolism | |||
| LDL receptor protein (PBMC)‡ | 17.6±9.3 | –0.26 | 0.04* |
| HMG-CoA reductase mRNA¶ | 3.3±1.3 | 0.17 | 0.17 |
| LDL receptor mRNA¶ | 0.52±0.32 | –0.03 | 0.78 |
| NPC1L1 mRNA¶ | 33±31 | –0.21 | 0.09* |
| PCSK9 mRNA¶ | 1.7±0.1 | 0.06 | 0.60 |
Values are means ± SDs, Spearman’s correlation coefficients rho between baseline plasma PCSK9 concentrations and clinical or biochemical parameters, and the associated P values. *indicates P values <0.10.
**
The data indicate the ratio of the respective non-cholesterol sterol to cholesterol (µg/mg) ×100.
†
Homeostasis model assessment.
‡
LDL receptor protein is given as flow cytometry-specific fluorescence, calculated by subtracting the nonspecific fluorescence intensity from the total fluorescence intensity.
¶
Gene expression is given as number of the respective mRNA copies divided by the number of copies of the TATA housekeeping gene mRNA.