Fig. 7.

Effect of oxLDL on cell shortening in the presence of Pep 2–8 and alirocumab. Adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes were cultured under serum-free conditions and incubated with oxLDL (20 µM), and combinations of oxLDL with the PCSK9 inhibitor Pep 2–8 (10 µM) or the monoclonal PCSK9 antibody alirocumab (1.5 mg/ml) respectively. After 24 h, load free cell shortening was determined (cells were paced at 2 Hz) and is expressed as (a) ΔL/L (%), (b) contraction velocity (µm/s) and c relaxation velocity (µm/s) of Control = 198, oxLDL = 198, oxLDL + Pep = 90 and oxLDL + Aliro. = 142 cells (16–22 independent experiments with an intraassay variability of p > 0.05). Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and Student–Newman–Keuls for post hoc analysis. a ≤ 0.05 vs. Control, oxLDL + Pep 2–8 and oxLDL + Aliro., b ≤ 0.05 vs. oxLDL and Control. Data are mean ± SD