Associations Among PCSK9 Levels, Atherosclerosis-Derived Extracellular Vesicles, and Their miRNA Content in Adults With Obesity

Figures

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  Figure 1. Association between PCSK9 levels and EV concentrations. (A) For each EV size (nm) IRR and 95% CI of associations between PCSK9 levels and EV concentrations were reported. IRR represents the percent variation in EVs concentration for 10 ng/mL increase in PCSK9 levels. (B) For each size, P-value and False Discovery Rate from negative binomial regression models adjusted for age, gender, BMI, smoking habit, statin use, PM10, and apparent temperature at the day before the blood draw were reported.

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  Figure 2. Interaction effect of PCSK9 levels and platelets on EV CD61+ concentrations and monocytes on EV CD14+ concentrations. (A) Strength of association between PCSK9 and EV CD61+ at three selected levels of platelets [mean-standard deviation (SD), mean, and mean + SD value]. (B) Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) were reported for a 10 ng/mL increase in PCSK9 concentration, at each level of monocytes. The negative binomial regression model was adjusted for age, gender, BMI, smoking habit, statin use, PM10, and apparent temperature measured on the day before the blood draw. P-value of interaction term PCSK9*CD61+ was 0.0166 (A) and PCSK9*CD14+ was 0.0322 (B). BMI, body mass index; PCSK9, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9; PM, particulate matter.

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  Figure 3. Interaction effect of PCSK9 and IL-8 levels on EV CD105+ concentrations. Strength of association between PCSK9 levels and EV CD105+ concentrations at four selected levels of IL-8 [lower limit of quantification (LLOQ)/2, mean – standard deviation (SD), mean, and mean + SD value]. P-value of interaction term PCSK9*CD105+ was 0.1532. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) were reported for a 10 ng/mL increase in PCSK9 concentration, at each level of IL-8. The negative binomial regression model was adjusted for age, gender, BMI, smoking habit, statin use, PM10, and apparent temperature measured on the day before the blood draw. BMI, body mass index; PCSK9, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9; PM, particulate matter.

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  Figure 4. Venn diagram of miRNAs targets. All predicted genes for the differentially expressed miRNAs were filtered according to their relation with atherosclerosis and were selected for checking gene targets overlap. Results show the miRNAs target common genes.