Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42189200›Full record

ArticleInflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]2026

PCSK9 orchestrates the antigen presentation-endothelial barrier axis to potentiate immune exclusion in colorectal cancer.

Gang Wang, Zengyaran Yue, Yong Bian, Tingting Su, Hengyi Qi, Yuwei Zhang, Xu Wang, Weiwei He, Zhongqing Liang, Gang Yin and 1 more

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Article in Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.], 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Gang Wang *School of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Zengyaran Yue *School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Yong Bian *Laboratory Animal Center, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Tingting SuSchool of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Hengyi QiSchool of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Yuwei ZhangJinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, 498 Yiwu Street, Jinhua, 321299, Zhejiang, China.
Xu WangSchool of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Weiwei HeNanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210022, China.
Zhongqing LiangSchool of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China. lzq@njucm.edu.cn.
Gang YinSchool of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China. yingang@njucm.edu.cn.
Decai TangSchool of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China. talknow@njucm.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82474096
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) promotes the degradation of MHC-I molecules, thereby weakening CD8⁺ T cell-mediated immune surveillance. However, whether PCSK9 additionally regulates immune infiltration through the tumor vascular barrier remains unknown.

methodsThis study employed a colorectal cancer (CRC) organoid-T cell coculture system, human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) barrier assays, and a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) liver metastasis model. PCSK9 was knocked down to assess its effects on antigen presentation, T cell activation, endothelial integrity, and tumor growth.

resultsPCSK9 knockdown significantly upregulated MHC-I expression, enhanced CD8⁺ T cell activation and cytotoxicity, and induced high production of IFN-γ and TNF-α. These cytokines disrupted VE-cadherin-mediated endothelial junctions, reduced transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), increased vascular permeability, and promoted deep T cell infiltration, ultimately suppressing tumor growth. Consistent in vitro and in vivo findings provided closed-loop validation from molecular to histological levels.

conclusionsFor the first time, this study reveals that PCSK9 establishes a multilevel immunoregulatory axis spanning antigen presentation, T cell activation, and the vascular barrier, driving immune evasion and microenvironmental remodeling in CRC. Inhibition of PCSK9 simultaneously activates antitumor immunity and optimizes the vascular microenvironment, presenting a promising combinatorial therapeutic target against CRC metastasis.

Indexed as

Antigen PresentationColorectal NeoplasmsProprotein Convertase 9AnimalsCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesCell Line, TumorCoculture TechniquesHumansHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsLiver NeoplasmsLymphocyte ActivationT-LymphocytesPCSK9 protein, humanProprotein Convertase 9Colorectal cancer metastasisMHC-I degradationPCSK9T cell activationVascular barrier dysfunction

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.