Anti-PCSK9 vaccine efficacy in BALB/c mice.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Antibody titers (ODmax/2) against huPCSK9 protein, for sera generated from different peptides generated upon 4 vaccinations in biweekly intervals. Values are means ±SEM (n = 8/group). Significance values relative to Peptide #1 (*<i>p</i><0.05; **<i>p</i><0.005, ***<i>p</i><0.001) were obtained by one-way ANOVA test with subsequent Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. (<b>B</b>) Mean off-rate values ±SEM of antibodies generated upon three subsequent immunizations (marked by arrows) with Peptide #1 and original PCSK9 sequence in a biweekly interval: W0, W2 and W4. (<b>C</b>) PCSK9-LDLR binding affinities in the presence of anti-PCSK9 antibodies, generated from different peptides. Values are means ±SEM, shown as a percentage of that for the negative control. (<b>D</b>) LDLR levels in liver hepatocytes from mice inoculated with different peptides, shown as a percentage of the negative control. Pooled liver lysates within each group (n = 5/group) were analyzed; error bars represent mean values ±SEM of duplicate measurements. (<b>E</b>) Mean values of TC levels (mg/dL) for mice inoculated with different peptides. Values are means; error bars represent ±SEM. Samples for (<b>A</b>), (<b>C</b>), (<b>D</b>) and (<b>E</b>) taken at week 8. W: week.