HDL biology
Four CETP-transgenic mouse strains show lipoprotein cholesterol shifting between HDL and LDL in an allelic dose-dependent manner across a 2.9 to 37.4 microg/ml CETP range (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001)
Original title: Effect of CETP on the plasma lipoprotein profile in four strains of transgenic mouse
To study how much CETP affects plasma lipoprotein profiles in vivo, the authors produced four strains of transgenic mice expressing different levels of human CETP and analyzed seven groups with differing CETP expression. Cholesterol levels in HDL, chylomicrons and VLDL, and IDL and LDL changed proportionally with plasma CETP concentrations, which ranged from 2.9 +/- 0.6 to 37.4 +/- 1.7 microg/ml, in an allelic dose-dependent manner. One strain, CETP-4, was further characterized and optimized as an experimental condition for a mouse model of atherosclerosis, and the authors conclude it would be useful for developing therapeutics against atherosclerosis.
Original abstract
The plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays a central role in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport. There are conflicting views regarding whether or not excessive CETP activity is one of the risk factors of atherosclerosis. To study how much effect CETP can have on the profiles of plasma lipoproteins in vivo, we produced four strains of transgenic mouse that expressed different levels of human CETP gene. We analyzed seven groups of mice that had different levels of CETP expression. The cholesterol level of HDL, chylomicron (CM) and VLDL, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and LDL were proportionally changed in association with plasma CETP concentrations (2.9 +/- 0.6 to 37.4 +/- 1.7 microg/ml) in an allelic dose-dependent manner. We further characterized one of the transgenic strains, CETP-4, by optimizing the experimental condition for the mouse model of atherosclerosis, and found that it would be useful for the development of therapeutics against atherosclerosis.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.