HDL biology
CETP mass is elevated in men, but not women, with metabolic syndrome, and tracks inversely with LDL particle size in both sexes (Obesity 2006)
Original title: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein in metabolic syndrome
Because CETP mediates the exchange of triglycerides for cholesteryl esters between triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and HDL or LDL particles, potentially contributing to the low HDL cholesterol and small dense LDL seen in metabolic syndrome, this study investigated the role of CETP in 234 men and 252 women from the SAPHIR cohort. Men and women with metabolic syndrome had lower HDL cholesterol (45 versus 58 mg/dL in men, 48 versus 71 mg/dL in women) and higher triglycerides (222 versus 98 mg/dL in men, 167 versus 90 mg/dL in women) than healthy subjects (all p less than 0.001), along with smaller LDL particle size. CETP mass, measured by ELISA, was significantly higher in men with metabolic syndrome (1.87 versus 1.40 microgram/mL, p less than 0.001) but not in women, and correlated inversely with LDL size in both men (r = -0.19, p less than 0.01) and women (r = -0.13, p less than 0.05), suggesting increased CETP mass contributes to reduced HDL cholesterol and smaller LDL particles in metabolic syndrome, particularly in men.
Original abstract
Objective: Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertriglyceridemia, and small dense-low density lipoprotein (LDL) are key components of metabolic syndrome (MS). Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of triglycerides (TGs) from TG-rich lipoproteins to HDL and LDL particles in exchange for cholesteryl esters, leading to low HDL-C and small dense-LDL. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of CETP in subjects with MS.
Research Methods And Procedures: In a cross-sectional cohort of 234 middle-aged men and 252 women randomly selected from the Salzburg Atherosclerosis Prevention Program in Subjects at High Individual Risk (SAPHIR) study, MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. CETP mass was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and LDL size-by-gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Results: Men and women with MS had lower HDL-C (45 +/- 7 vs. 58 +/- 13 and 48 +/- 10 vs. 71 +/- 14 mg/dL for men and women, respectively; p < 0.001 for all) and higher TG levels (222 +/- 71 vs. 98 +/- 54 and 167 +/- 67 vs. 90 +/- 35 mg/dL for men and women, respectively; p < 0.001 for all) than healthy subjects. LDL size was lower in subjects with MS (256 +/- 11 A vs. 267 +/- 11 A and 262 +/- 10 A vs. 273 +/- 8 A for men and women, respectively; p < 0.001 for all). CETP mass was higher in men with MS (1.87 +/- 0.78 vs. 1.40 +/- 0.65 mug/mL; p < 0.001) but not in women (1.74 +/- 0.79 vs. 1.62 +/- 0.62 mug/mL). CETP mass correlated inversely with LDL size in both men and women (r = -0.19, p < 0.01 and r = -0.13, p < 0.05 in men and women, respectively).
Discussion: MS is associated with increased CETP mass in men. Increased CETP mass may be responsible for reduced HDL-C and reduced LDL particle diameter in MS.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.