The role of PCSK9 in blood lipids recycling in women with acute toxoplasmosis.

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is intracellular parasite; it is considered one of the most important causes of miscarriage and can inhibit the development of the fetus, especially at the beginning of pregnancy. Host lipids have an important role in the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a liver secreted protein that has the unusual ability to interfere and block the natural recycling of lipid receptors, resulting in impaired lipid clearance from the plasma. This study designed to investigate the role of PCSK9 in recycling blood lipid levels in women with acute toxoplasmosis and to evaluate the relationship between them. Forty serum blood samples were collected from aborted women, who were having acute toxoplasmosis (IgM and IgA positive result) for the period October 2020 to March 2021. In addition, 25 samples were collected from apparently-healthy women (negative control group) and 25 samples collected from other aborted women (positive control group). Both groups gave negative result for the presence of IgM, IgA and IgG-Toxoplasma antibodies. Finally, PCSK9 and blood lipids levels were measured for all groups. Positive relations were found between lipid profile values and T. gondii infected women. There were an increased in triglycerides (149.65 mg/dl), HDL (38.5 mg/dl), VLDL (140.53 mg/dl) values, while there was a decreased in LDL values (41.7 mg/dl). The PCSK9 was a highly significant increase in PCSK9 in T. gondii infected women (3.23) compared with aborted and healthy control groups (1.57, 1.15 respectively). The measurement of PCSK9 can be used as a biomarker and may be useful in screening for acute toxoplasmosis. In spite of a highly significant increase in PCSK9 and blood lipids in acute toxoplasmosis, there was a decrease in BMI. This may be due to toxoplasmosis infection.