Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors: prospects for cholesterol-lowering therapy in type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Diabetic dyslipoproteinemia (DLP), characterized by quantitative, qualitative, and kinetic changes in all major circulating lipids, contributes to an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) by human monoclonal antibodies is a promising treatment for diabetic DLP. Several drugs differ in their mechanisms of inhibition of PCSK9 activity. The following groups are conditionally distinguished: PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies (anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies): evolocumab, alirocumab, bococizumab (injectable); other injectable medications with different mechanism of actions (inclisiran, SPC4061, SPC5001, adnectin BMS-962476, LIB003, anti-PCSK9 vaccine; anti-PCSK9 vaccine (nanoparticle-based); orally administered drugs (PF-06446846, DS-9001a, SRT3025); cholesteryl ester transfer protein/PCSK9 inhibitors (anacetrapib, evacetrapib, torcetrapib, K-312). This review aims to discuss the role of alirocumab and evolocumab, fully humanized monoclonal antibodies, in the treatment of type 2 DM patients with DLP and to consider their effectiveness and safety. Strategy of search. Scopus, Science Direct (from Elsevier), and PubMed, including the Medline databases, were searched. The following keywords were used: autonomic nervous system, heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy, and MeSH terms. A manual search of the bibliography of publications was used to identify research results that could not be found with the online search. Statins are the first line of choice for treating DLP in patients with type 2 DM to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Ezetimibe is the next drug to be added if patients’ low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are higher than acceptable. In cases of failure of the combination of statins with ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitor is a reasonable and rational choice. Overall, clinical data suggest that PCSK9 inhibitors are well tolerated and provide a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in type 2 DM patients with DLP in addition to high-intensity statin therapy. The use of PCSK9 inhibitors is not associated with impaired glycemic control or increased risk of diabetes development in individuals without previously diagnosed DM and may prevent or reduce subsequent cardiovascular events.