PCSK9 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Similarly, PCSK9 inhibition in a rat model of diet-induced obesity or prior to ischemia was shown to mediate cardioprotection through preservation of cardiac mitochondrial function, reduction in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and attenuation of mitochondrial apoptosis leading to improved LV function (Palee et al., 2019; Amput et al., 2020).