HDL biology
CETP activity falls 15 percent in hypothyroidism, tracking changes in HDL lipid composition (Eur J Clin Invest 1990)
Original title: The activity of cholesteryl ester transfer protein is decreased in hypothyroidism: a possible contribution to alterations in high-density lipoproteins
Cholesteryl ester transfer activity was measured, as the rate of transfer between radiolabeled LDL and HDL, in 13 athyreotic patients studied both in the hypothyroid state and again in the euthyroid state after 33 to 67 days of triiodothyronine supplementation. During hypothyroidism, total cholesterol, VLDL plus LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, apoA-I, and apoB were all significantly higher than in the euthyroid state. Cholesteryl ester transfer activity was 15% lower during hypothyroidism (P less than 0.02), with an effect of treatment duration observed, and changes in HDL total cholesterol, free cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and the free cholesterol to cholesteryl ester ratio were all inversely related to changes in cholesteryl ester transfer activity. The authors conclude that thyroid hormone regulates CETP activity, which may in turn contribute to the HDL lipid alterations seen in hypothyroidism.
Original abstract
The activity of cholesteryl ester transfer protein is instrumental in the distribution of cholesteryl ester between lipoproteins in plasma. We measured the activity of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in plasma, designated cholesteryl ester transfer activity, as the rate of cholesteryl ester transfer between exogenous radiolabelled low-density and high-density lipoproteins. The effect of hypothyroidism on cholesteryl ester transfer activity was investigated in 13 athyreotic patients who were studied in the hypothyroid condition and in the euthyroid state, after they had received triiodothyronine supplementation for 33 to 67 days. During hypothyroidism plasma total cholesterol, very-low- plus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma triacylglycerol, apolipoprotein A1 and B were significantly higher than in the euthyroid state. Cholesteryl ester transfer activity was 15% lower during hypothyroidism (P less than 0.02), and an effect of treatment duration was observed. The changes in high-density lipoprotein total cholesterol (P less than 0.02), free cholesterol (P less than 0.001), triacylglycerol (P less than 0.05) and the free cholesterol/cholesteryl ester molar ratio in high-density lipoproteins (P less than 0.01) were inversely-related to the changes in cholesteryl ester transfer activity. We concluded that thyroid hormone is involved in the regulation of cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity, and that cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity may play a role in the alterations in high-density lipoprotein lipids observed in hypothyroidism.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.