Cholesteryl ester transfer protein in metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertriglyceridemia, and small dense-low density lipoprotein (LDL) are key components of metabolic syndrome (MS). Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of triglycerides (TGs) from TG-rich lipoproteins to HDL and LDL particles in exchange for cholesteryl esters, leading to low HDL-C and small dense-LDL. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of CETP in subjects with MS.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional cohort of 234 middle-aged men and 252 women randomly selected from the Salzburg Atherosclerosis Prevention Program in Subjects at High Individual Risk (SAPHIR) study, MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. CETP mass was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and LDL size-by-gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.


RESULTS
Men and women with MS had lower HDL-C (45 +/- 7 vs. 58 +/- 13 and 48 +/- 10 vs. 71 +/- 14 mg/dL for men and women, respectively; p < 0.001 for all) and higher TG levels (222 +/- 71 vs. 98 +/- 54 and 167 +/- 67 vs. 90 +/- 35 mg/dL for men and women, respectively; p < 0.001 for all) than healthy subjects. LDL size was lower in subjects with MS (256 +/- 11 A vs. 267 +/- 11 A and 262 +/- 10 A vs. 273 +/- 8 A for men and women, respectively; p < 0.001 for all). CETP mass was higher in men with MS (1.87 +/- 0.78 vs. 1.40 +/- 0.65 mug/mL; p < 0.001) but not in women (1.74 +/- 0.79 vs. 1.62 +/- 0.62 mug/mL). CETP mass correlated inversely with LDL size in both men and women (r = -0.19, p < 0.01 and r = -0.13, p < 0.05 in men and women, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
MS is associated with increased CETP mass in men. Increased CETP mass may be responsible for reduced HDL-C and reduced LDL particle diameter in MS.
Sandhofer
Anton
A
Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Kaser
Susanne
S
Ritsch
Andreas
A
Laimer
Markus
M
Engl
Julia
J
Paulweber
Bernhard
B
Patsch
Josef R
JR
Ebenbichler
Christoph F
CF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides