Health Topics

Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You Are Here:
Home →
Genetics →
Genes →
PCSK9 gene
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/pcsk9/

PCSK9 gene

proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9

Normal Function

The PCSK9 gene provides instructions for making a protein that helps regulate the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is produced in the body and obtained from foods that come from animals.

The PCSK9 protein controls the number of low-density lipoprotein receptors, which are proteins on the surface of cells. These receptors play a critical role in regulating blood cholesterol levels. The receptors bind to particles called low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), which are the primary carriers of cholesterol in the blood. Low-density lipoprotein receptors are particularly abundant in the liver, the organ responsible for removing most excess cholesterol from the body.

The number of low-density lipoprotein receptors on the surface of liver cells determines how quickly cholesterol is removed from the bloodstream. The PCSK9 protein breaks down low-density lipoprotein receptors before they reach the cell surface, so more cholesterol can remain in the bloodstream.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Familial hypercholesterolemia

Researchers have identified more than 50 PCSK9 gene mutations that cause familial hypercholesterolemia. Most of these mutations change single protein building blocks (amino acids) in the PCSK9 protein. Researchers describe the mutations responsible for familial hypercholesterolemia as "gain-of-function" because they appear to enhance the activity of the PCSK9 protein.

The enhanced activity of the altered PCSK9 protein causes low-density lipoprotein receptors to be broken down more quickly than usual, reducing the number of receptors on the surface of liver cells. With fewer receptors to remove LDLs from the blood, people with gain-of-function mutations in the PCSK9 gene have very high blood cholesterol levels. As the excess cholesterol circulates through the bloodstream, it is deposited abnormally in tissues such as the skin, tendons, and arteries that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries). A buildup of cholesterol in the walls of coronary arteries greatly increases a person's risk of having a heart attack.

Most people with familial hypercholesterolemia inherit one altered copy of the PCSK9 gene from an affected parent and one normal copy of the gene from the other parent. These cases are associated with an increased risk of early heart disease, typically beginning in a person's forties or fifties. Rarely, a person with familial hypercholesterolemia is born with two mutated copies of the PCSK9 gene. This situation occurs when the person has two affected parents, each of whom passes on one altered copy of the gene. The presence of two PCSK9 gene mutations results in a more severe form of hypercholesterolemia that usually appears in childhood.

More About This Health Condition

Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia

MedlinePlus Genetics provides information about Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia

More About This Health Condition

Other disorders

Other mutations in the PCSK9 gene result in reduced blood cholesterol levels (hypocholesterolemia). These genetic changes reduce the activity of the PCSK9 protein or decrease the amount of this protein that is produced in cells. Researchers describe this type of mutation as "loss-of-function." Loss-of-function mutations in the PCSK9 gene appear to be more common than gain-of-function mutations, which cause familial hypercholesterolemia (described above).

Loss-of-function mutations in the PCSK9 gene impair the break down of low-density lipoprotein receptors, which leads to an increase in the number of receptors on the surface of liver cells. The extra receptors can remove LDLs from the blood more quickly than usual, which decreases the amount of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. Studies suggest that people with reduced cholesterol levels caused by PCSK9 mutations have a significantly lower-than-average risk of developing heart disease.

Researchers suspect that normal changes (polymorphisms) in the PCSK9 gene are responsible for some of the variation in blood cholesterol levels among people without inherited cholesterol disorders. In particular, scientists are working to determine which polymorphisms are associated with relatively low levels of cholesterol in the blood and a reduced risk of heart disease.

Other Names for This Gene

  • FH3
  • HCHOLA3
  • hypercholesterolemia, autosomal dominant 3
  • NARC-1
  • NARC1
  • neural apoptosis regulated convertase 1
  • PCSK9_HUMAN
  • Proprotein convertase PC9
  • Subtilisin/kexin-like protease PC9

Additional Information & Resources

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

Scientific Articles on PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Gene and Variant Databases

References

  • Abifadel M, Varret M, Rabes JP, Allard D, Ouguerram K, Devillers M, Cruaud C, Benjannet S, Wickham L, Erlich D, Derre A, Villeger L, Farnier M, Beucler I, Bruckert E, Chambaz J, Chanu B, Lecerf JM, Luc G, Moulin P, Weissenbach J, Prat A, Krempf M, Junien C, Seidah NG, Boileau C. Mutations in PCSK9 cause autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia. Nat Genet. 2003 Jun;34(2):154-6. doi: 10.1038/ng1161. Citation on PubMed
  • Allard D, Amsellem S, Abifadel M, Trillard M, Devillers M, Luc G, Krempf M, Reznik Y, Girardet JP, Fredenrich A, Junien C, Varret M, Boileau C, Benlian P, Rabes JP. Novel mutations of the PCSK9 gene cause variable phenotype of autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia. Hum Mutat. 2005 Nov;26(5):497. doi: 10.1002/humu.9383. Erratum In: Hum Mutat. 2005 Dec;26(6):592. Citation on PubMed
  • Berge KE, Ose L, Leren TP. Missense mutations in the PCSK9 gene are associated with hypocholesterolemia and possibly increased response to statin therapy. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006 May;26(5):1094-100. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000204337.81286.1c. Epub 2006 Jan 19. Citation on PubMed
  • Cameron J, Holla OL, Ranheim T, Kulseth MA, Berge KE, Leren TP. Effect of mutations in the PCSK9 gene on the cell surface LDL receptors. Hum Mol Genet. 2006 May 1;15(9):1551-8. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddl077. Epub 2006 Mar 28. Citation on PubMed
  • Chen SN, Ballantyne CM, Gotto AM Jr, Tan Y, Willerson JT, Marian AJ. A common PCSK9 haplotype, encompassing the E670G coding single nucleotide polymorphism, is a novel genetic marker for plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005 May 17;45(10):1611-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.01.051. Epub 2005 Apr 21. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Cohen JC, Boerwinkle E, Mosley TH Jr, Hobbs HH. Sequence variations in PCSK9, low LDL, and protection against coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 23;354(12):1264-72. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa054013. Citation on PubMed
  • Hopkins PN, Defesche J, Fouchier SW, Bruckert E, Luc G, Cariou B, Sjouke B, Leren TP, Harada-Shiba M, Mabuchi H, Rabes JP, Carrie A, van Heyningen C, Carreau V, Farnier M, Teoh YP, Bourbon M, Kawashiri MA, Nohara A, Soran H, Marais AD, Tada H, Abifadel M, Boileau C, Chanu B, Katsuda S, Kishimoto I, Lambert G, Makino H, Miyamoto Y, Pichelin M, Yagi K, Yamagishi M, Zair Y, Mellis S, Yancopoulos GD, Stahl N, Mendoza J, Du Y, Hamon S, Krempf M, Swergold GD. Characterization of Autosomal Dominant Hypercholesterolemia Caused by PCSK9 Gain of Function Mutations and Its Specific Treatment With Alirocumab, a PCSK9 Monoclonal Antibody. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2015 Dec;8(6):823-31. doi: 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.115.001129. Epub 2015 Sep 15. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Horton JD, Cohen JC, Hobbs HH. Molecular biology of PCSK9: its role in LDL metabolism. Trends Biochem Sci. 2007 Feb;32(2):71-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2006.12.008. Epub 2007 Jan 9. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Kotowski IK, Pertsemlidis A, Luke A, Cooper RS, Vega GL, Cohen JC, Hobbs HH. A spectrum of PCSK9 alleles contributes to plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Am J Hum Genet. 2006 Mar;78(3):410-22. doi: 10.1086/500615. Epub 2006 Jan 20. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Maxwell KN, Breslow JL. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9: the third locus implicated in autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2005 Apr;16(2):167-72. doi: 10.1097/01.mol.0000162321.31925.a3. Citation on PubMed
  • Maxwell KN, Fisher EA, Breslow JL. Overexpression of PCSK9 accelerates the degradation of the LDLR in a post-endoplasmic reticulum compartment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Feb 8;102(6):2069-74. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0409736102. Epub 2005 Jan 27. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Zhao Z, Tuakli-Wosornu Y, Lagace TA, Kinch L, Grishin NV, Horton JD, Cohen JC, Hobbs HH. Molecular characterization of loss-of-function mutations in PCSK9 and identification of a compound heterozygote. Am J Hum Genet. 2006 Sep;79(3):514-23. doi: 10.1086/507488. Epub 2006 Jul 18. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.