Genetics
CETP TaqIB does not predict angiographically documented coronary artery disease risk, large case-control study finds (Clin Genet 2001)
Original title: Lack of association of the common TaqIB polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene with angiographically assessed coronary atherosclerosis
This case-control study addressed the controversial anti-atherogenic effect of low-CETP-activity genetic variants, screening the CETP TaqIB polymorphism in 415 subjects with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD+), 397 without CAD (215 with CAD excluded by coronarography), and 188 healthy population controls. The low-activity TaqIB2 allele frequency was 0.396 in CAD+, and 0.428 and 0.416 in the CAD- and population control groups (p=0.40). Its presence was significantly associated with higher HDL-cholesterol in population controls (1.40, 1.52, 1.58 mmol/L for B1B1, B1B2, B2B2, p less than 0.03 for trend), but not in the other groups, and explained less than 1% of HDL-cholesterol variance overall (p=0.048). After adjustment for other risk factors, the TaqIB2 allele showed no significant association with CAD risk under a dominant (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.66-1.44, p=0.89) or recessive model (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.42-1.12, p=0.13), and no significant interaction with other risk factors. The authors conclude their findings do not support lowered CETP activity being protective against coronary atherosclerosis.
Original abstract
The anti-atherogenic effect of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genetic variants associated with lowered enzyme activity is controversial. Moreover, in a few studies, this effect has been evaluated in the presence of a certain risk factor constellation. We addressed this issue in a case-control study, where 415 subjects with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD +), 397 subjects without CAD (in 215, CAD was excluded by coronarography (CAD-)), and 188 healthy population controls, were screened for the CETP TaqIB polymorphism. The prevalence of the low-activity TaqIB2 allele was 0.396 in CAD+, and 0.428 and 0.416 in CAD- and population controls, respectively (p = 0.40). Its presence was significantly associated with increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in population controls (1.40 +/- 0.40 mmol/l in B1B1, 1.52 +/- 0.39 mmol/l in B1B2 and 1.58 + 0.46 mmol/l in B2B2; p < 0.03 for trend), but not in the other groups. The CETP TaqIB polymorphism accounted for < 1% of the HDL-C variance in the whole cohort (p = 0.048). After adjustment for other risk factors, the CETP TaqIB2 allele was found not to be associated with significant changes in CAD risk independently of an assumed either dominant (odds ratio (OR) 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-1.44; p = 0.89) or recessive effect (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.42-1.12; p = 0.13). The CETP TaqIB polymorphism did not show a significant interaction with other risk factors in influencing CAD risk. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that a genetic variant resulting in lowered CETP activity is associated with reduced risk of coronary atherosclerosis.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.