Therapeutic implications of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors in hyperlipidemia and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterolemia.
Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in plasma are an independent coronary risk factor. Therapies that lower cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) have preventative effects on aortic atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. CETP inhibitors are a new class of compounds that can increase HDL-C levels by up to 70%, according to data from phase I and II clinical trials. CETP inhibitors are therefore likely to be beneficial in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia and HDL-C levels lower than 40 mg/dl. CETP inhibitors should, however, be viewed with caution as their effects on triglyceride metabolism are currently unknown.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. inazua@mhs.mp.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Akihiro
A
Inazu
Hiroshi
H
Mabuchi
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
C506642:CETP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006023:Glycoproteins