The class
Review surveys recent findings on plasma lipid transfer proteins including CETP's role in HDL delivery and coronary risk (Curr Opin Lipidol 2006)
Original title: Plasma lipid transfer proteins
This review discusses CETP and phospholipid transfer protein, both involved in lipoprotein metabolism and potential targets for atherosclerosis therapy. It highlights that CETP mediates direct delivery of HDL cholesteryl ester to liver cells, that adipose-tissue-specific CETP overexpression in mice reduces plasma HDL cholesterol and adipocyte size, and that the CETP TaqIB polymorphism is associated with plasma HDL cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease risk. The review also covers phospholipid transfer protein findings, including its deficiency enhancing degradation of newly synthesized apolipoprotein B in transgenic mice and improving HDL anti-inflammatory properties, and its markedly decreased activity in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease patients, concluding that understanding lipid transfer proteins remains an important frontier for atherosclerosis therapy.
Original abstract
Purpose Of Review: Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein and phospholipid transfer protein are involved in lipoprotein metabolism. Conceivably, manipulation of either transfer protein could impact atherosclerosis and other lipid-driven diseases.
Recent Findings: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein mediates direct HDL cholesteryl ester delivery to the liver cells; adipose tissue-specific overexpression of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in mice reduces the plasma HDL cholesterol concentration and adipocyte size; cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqIB polymorphism is associated with HDL cholesterol plasma levels and the risk of coronary heart disease. In apolipoprotein B transgenic mice, phospholipid transfer protein deficiency enhances reactive oxygen species-dependent degradation of newly synthesized apolipoprotein B via a post-endoplasmic reticulum process, as well as improving the antiinflammatory properties of HDL in mice. Activity of this transfer protein in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease is profoundly decreased and exogenous phospholipid transfer protein induces apolipoprotein E secretion by primary human astrocytes in vitro.
Summary: Understanding the relationship between lipid transfer proteins and lipoprotein metabolism is expected to be an important frontier in the search for a therapy for atherosclerosis.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.