Genetics
CETP TaqIB rare allele is linked to lower internal carotid artery thickness in men, in the Framingham Heart Study (Atherosclerosis 2006)
Original title: Association between well-characterized lipoprotein-related genetic variants and carotid intimal medial thickness and stenosis: The Framingham Heart Study
In 3380 men and women from the Framingham Offspring Study who underwent carotid ultrasound, 12 variants across 10 lipoprotein-related genes were genotyped and tested for association with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and stenosis of 25% or more. Most variants showed no association with carotid IMT, but in multivariable, sex-specific analysis, the rare allele of the CETP TaqIB variant was associated with lower internal carotid artery IMT in men. Hypertension was associated with higher internal carotid artery IMT only in male carriers of the rare APOCIII Sst-1 allele (interaction p=0.041), and male carriers of the rare lipoprotein lipase N291S variant showed higher risk of carotid stenosis (OR=2.59, 95% CI 1.11-6.02, p=0.028) than N291N homozygotes. The authors conclude their results are consistent with previously reported roles for CETP and lipoprotein lipase variants in cardiovascular risk.
Original abstract
Objective: To determine the association of well-characterized lipoprotein-related genetic variants with carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) and stenosis.
Methods: 3380 men and women from the Framingham Offspring Study underwent carotid ultrasound to determine carotid IMT and stenosis>/=25%. We genotyped 12 variants in 10 lipoprotein-related genes known to be associated with significant differences in lipoprotein levels.
Results: For most of the variants, there was no association with carotid IMT. In multivariable, sex-specific analyses, the rare allele of the cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB variant was associated with lower ICA IMT in men. Hypertension was associated with higher ICA IMT only in male carriers of the rare allele of the APOCIII Sst-1 variant (p for the interaction=0.041). In analyses of carotid stenosis in male, carriers of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) N291S rare variant showed a higher risk of carotid stenosis (OR=2.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.11-6.02, p=0.028) compared to NN genotype.
Conclusions: While there is no evidence for a significant association of several common lipoprotein-related genetic variants with carotid IMT, our results are consistent with the previously reported role of CETP and LPL genetic variants in cardiovascular risk and the possible modulation of the association between hypertension and carotid IMT by APOCIII Sst-1 variant.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.