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Dyslipidaemia

Anti-PCSK9 vaccines to halt atherosclerosis

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 14, pages 442–443 (2017)Cite this article

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An anti-PCSK9 vaccine called AT04A, which consists of a peptide mimicking the N-terminal epitope of the protein, reduces plasma lipid levels and hampers development of atherosclerosis in mice, according to new research. “In our study, we could show for the first time that AT04A does not only lower LDL cholesterol, but also reduces the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in a relevant mouse model,” says Guenther Staffler, corresponding author of the study and Chief Technology Officer at AFFiRiS, the company that developed the vaccine.

Treatment with the AT04A vaccine significantly reduced the number and area of atherosclerotic lesions compared with control. Furthermore, aortic inflammation was also reduced, as demonstrated by reduced monocyte adherence and decreased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in endothelial cells of the aortic wall.

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References

  1. Landlinger, C. et al. The AT04A vaccine against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 reduces total cholesterol, vascular inflammation, and atherosclerosis in APOE*3Leiden.CETP mice. Eur. Heart J. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehx260 (2017)

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  1. Dario Ummarino
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Dadu, R. T. et al. Lipid lowering with PCSK9 inhibitors. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 11, 563–575 (2014)

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Ummarino, D. Anti-PCSK9 vaccines to halt atherosclerosis. Nat Rev Cardiol 14, 442–443 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2017.106

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