INSR and diabetes mellitus: Miao et al. [24] found that hepatic PCSK9 mRNA and plasma PCSK9 protein levels were reduced by 55% to 75% in mice with liver-specific insulin receptor deficiency; 75% to 88% in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes; and 65% in ob/ob mice treated with antisense oligonucleotides against the insulin receptor.