This invention is related to the field of hypercholesterolemia. In particular, the invention provides compositions and methods to modulate circulating levels of low density lipoproteins by altering the conformation of the protein PCSK9 using synthetic ligands and/or synthetic ligand derivative sequences of 3-8 amino acids ranging between 350-2,000 Da. Altering the conformation of PCSK9 affects the interaction between PCSK9 and an endogenous low density lipoprotein receptor, and can lead to reduced or increased levels of circulating LDL-cholesterol. High LDL-cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk for heart disease. Low LDL-cholesterol levels may be problematic in other conditions, such as liver dysfunction; thus, there is also utility for ligands which can raise LDL levels.
本发明涉及高
胆固醇血症领域。特别是,本发明提供了通过使用合成
配体和/或 350-2,000 Da 之间的 3-8 个
氨基酸的合成
配体衍
生物序列改变蛋白质
PCSK9 的构象来调节循环中低密度脂蛋白
水平的组合物和方法。改变
PCSK9 的构象会影响
PCSK9 与内源性低密度脂蛋白受体之间的相互作用,从而导致循环中低密度脂蛋白
胆固醇水平的降低或升高。低密度脂蛋白
胆固醇水平高与心脏病风险增加有关。低密度脂蛋白
胆固醇水平过低可能会对肝功能障碍等其他疾病造成困扰;因此,能提高低密度脂蛋白
水平的
配体也很有用。