PCSK9 and atherosclerosis: In addition to promoting the lysosomal degradation of LDL receptor LDLR on the surface of hepatocytes (14), PCSK9 can also act directly on blood vessel walls, by disrupting lipid intake and efflux of macrophages, promoting the secretion of inflammatory factors and inducing apoptosis to participate in atherosclerosis and even plaque destabilization (15, 16).