Immunomodulatory Effects of PCSK9 Inhibition

Exclusion Criteria

• •pregnancy or breastfeeding
• •CONTROL PARTICIPANTS ONLY: No known history of ASCVD (including a history of coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, acute coronary syndrome, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary bypass surgery, carotid endarterectomy, stroke or TIA)
• •current treatment with prescription, systemic (oral, IV, IM or intra-articular) steroids or anti-inflammatory/immune suppressant medical therapies (excluding topical therapies, UV therapy, ASA-derivative therapies, or NSAIDS) for autoimmune/inflammatory diseases (psoriasis, RA, IBD, lupus), post-transplant care, asthma, or pain syndromes
• •use of oral steroids or prescription oral anti-inflammatory/immune suppressant medication for \> 7 days within the past 1 month
• •use of IV, IM or intra-articular steroids or IV, IM or intra-articular anti-inflammatory/immune suppressant medication within the past 3 months
• •Any prior use of PCSK9 inhibitors including both monoclonal antibodies or small interfering RNA
• •CONTROL PARTICIPANTS ONLY: use of cholesterol lowering therapy (including statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, PCSK9 inhibitors including both monoclonal antibodies or small interfering RNA, niacin, fibrates) or other lipid lowering agents associated with ASCVD risk reduction such as Vascepa. Cholesterol lowering therapies that that predominantly target triglycerides including over the counter omega-3 fatty acids and Lovaza are permitted.
• •known allergy to dextrans and/or DTPA and/or radiometals
• •significant radiation exposure (\>2 CT angiograms) received within the past 12 months
• •concurrent enrollment in another research study judged by the study investigators to interfere with the current study