Genetics
ApoB/CETP double transgenic mice recreate a human-like lipoprotein cholesterol distribution on chow diet (J Lipid Res 1995)
Original title: Transgenic mice expressing both human apolipoprotein B and human CETP have a lipoprotein cholesterol distribution similar to that of normolipidemic humans
Transgenic mice expressing both human apolipoprotein B and human CETP were developed and characterized on a normal chow diet. The double transgenic animals showed threefold higher serum CETP activity than humans, while human apoB levels matched those of normolipidemic humans. Total serum cholesterol was significantly increased in female apoB/CETP transgenic mice compared with nontransgenic mice, and HDL cholesterol was significantly decreased in both males and females. The proportion of total cholesterol distributed among HDL, LDL, and VLDL in the apoB/CETP mice was approximately 30%, 65%, and 5% respectively, closely resembling the lipoprotein cholesterol distribution seen in normolipidemic human plasma. The authors conclude that co-expressing human apoB and human CETP transforms the mouse serum lipoprotein cholesterol distribution into a human-like profile.
Original abstract
Transgenic mice expressing both human apolipoprotein (apo) B and human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) have been developed. When fed a normal mouse chow diet, the apoB/CETP double transgenic animals had threefold higher serum CETP activity than humans and had human apoB levels that were similar to those of normolipidemic humans. When compared with nontransgenic mice, the total serum cholesterol levels in the female apoB/CETP transgenic animals were increased significantly. Serum HDL cholesterol levels were decreased significantly in both male and female apoB/CETP transgenic animals. The percentages of the total cholesterol within the HDL, LDL, and VLDL fractions of the apoB/CETP animals were approximately 30%, 65%, and 5%, respectively, similar to the distribution of cholesterol in the plasma of normolipidemic humans. Thus, by expressing both human apoB and human CETP, the lipoprotein cholesterol distribution in the serum of a chow-fed mouse was transformed into one that resembles a human profile.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.