Genetics
CETP transgenic mice develop more severe, faster-progressing fatty liver than controls, worse in males (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1994)
Original title: The development of fatty liver is accelerated in transgenic mice expressing cynomolgus monkey cholesteryl ester transfer protein
Expression of cynomolgus monkey CETP in C57BL/6 mice is known to substantially alter their lipoprotein profile, so this study examined its effect on hepatic lipids. Livers from 6- and 12-month-old CETP transgenic mice were compared with age-matched C57BL/6 controls for triglyceride, cholesterol, and phospholipid content. Fatty liver was significantly more severe in CETP transgenic mice than controls (P less than 0.01), progressed with age (P less than 0.01), and developed more rapidly in males than females (P less than 0.01), with triglyceride as the accumulating lipid. These findings show CETP expression accelerates fatty liver development in this mouse model and raise the possibility that CETP contributes to hepatic steatosis in humans.
Original abstract
Expression of cynomolgus monkey cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in C57BL/6 mice has been shown to have a profound effect on the lipoprotein profile in those animals. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of CETP expression on the hepatic lipids of the CETP transgenic mice. The triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid composition of livers from 6- and 12-month-old transgenic mice were evaluated and compared with those of age-matched C57BL/6 mice. Statistical analysis indicated that fatty liver was more severe in CETP transgenic mice than C57BL/6 controls (p < 0.01); progressed with age (p < 0.01); and developed more rapidly in males than females (p < 0.01). The lipid that accumulated was triglyceride. These data indicate that CETP expression accelerates the development of fatty liver in the C57BL/6 mouse and raise the possibility that CETP may also contribute to the process of hepatic steatosis in man.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.