Cholesteryl ester transfer protein: gathering momentum as a genetic marker and as drug target.
OBJECTIVE
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein facilitates the exchange of neutral lipids between HDL and apolipoprotein B containing lipoproteins, which hold powerful opposing roles as risk factors for coronary artery disease. The question as to whether cholesteryl ester transfer protein promotes or protects from atherosclerosis, however, has not been answered.


RESULTS
This review considers studies dealing with cholesteryl ester transfer protein variants and their effect on blood lipids in various metabolic and clinical settings. Other studies discussed deal with the association between the transfer protein and cardiovascular disease. Research on the biological activity of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein molecule is described including a first clinical study where pharmacological inhibition of the protein proved to be effective in raising HDL cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
Data concerning the potential marker role of cholesteryl ester transfer protein, although accumulating, are still inconclusive and, at present, not useful for clinical decision making. Inhibition of the protein was demonstrated to be feasible and appears to be promising.
Ritsch
Andreas
A
Department of Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Patsch
Josef R
JR
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D013379:Substrate Specificity
C506642:CETP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006023:Glycoproteins