MechanismsLandmark
A new self-quenching BODIPY-cholesteryl-ester microemulsion assay enables simple fluorescence-based measurement of CETP activity in plasma (J Lipid Res 1993)
Original title: Use of fluorescent cholesteryl ester microemulsions in cholesteryl ester transfer protein assays
The authors describe a simple, practical method to assess cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity in a defined system, using microemulsions containing a fluorescent cholesteryl ester analog. The microemulsions are stable, simple to prepare, and can be made to defined composition, with initial transfer rates easily determined by monitoring fluorescence changes. Using the fluorescent analog BODIPY-CE, which self-quenches in a concentration-dependent manner when incorporated into microemulsions, the authors demonstrated fluorescent lipid transfer facilitated by rabbit and human d greater than 1.21 g/ml plasma fraction and by recombinant human CETP. A known inhibitory monoclonal antibody to human CETP blocked BODIPY-CE transfer dose-dependently. The assay was also used to measure CETP activity directly in whole plasma.
Original abstract
In the present report we describe a simple and practical method to assess CETP activity in a defined system by use of microemulsions containing a fluorescent cholesteryl ester analog. The microemulsions are stable, simple to prepare, and can be made to defined composition. Initial transfer rates are easily determined by monitoring changes in fluorescence. We have used the fluorescent cholesteryl ester analog, cholesteryl 4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-boro-3 alpha, 4 alpha-diaza-3-indacenedodecanoate (BODIPY-CE), to demonstrate the utility of this assay. The assay takes advantage of the concentration-dependent self-quenching of BODIPY-CE, when this analog is incorporated into microemulsions. We have used this new assay to demonstrate fluorescent lipid transfer facilitated by rabbit and human d > 1.21 g/ml plasma fraction and recombinant human CETP. A known inhibitory monoclonal antibody (Mab) to human CETP blocked BODIPY-CE transfer in a dose-dependent manner. We have also used BODIPY-CE microemulsions to measure CETP activity in whole plasma.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.