Genetics
CETP B2B2 genotype protects against acute coronary syndrome only in normal-weight Greeks, not the overweight or obese (Hum Hered 2007)
Original title: Cholesteryl ester-transfer protein (CETP) polymorphism and the association of acute coronary syndromes by obesity status in Greek subjects: the CARDIO2000-GENE study
This CARDIO2000-GENE study investigated whether the CETP Taq1B polymorphism predisposes to acute coronary syndromes (ACS) depending on obesity status, studying 237 hospitalized Greek patients with a first ACS event and 237 age- and sex-matched controls, genotyped by PCR-RFLP. Overall CETP genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between patients and controls (B2B2, B1B1, B1B2: 14%, 35%, 51% in patients versus 17%, 33%, 50% in controls, p=0.72). A significant interaction was observed between obesity status and CETP genotype for ACS likelihood (p for interaction less than 0.001): stratified analysis showed the B2B2 genotype was associated with 0.27 times lower odds of ACS among normal-weight people (OR=0.27, p=0.02), with no significant relationship among overweight or obese participants. The authors conclude the CETP B2B2 genotype has a protective effect against first ACS specifically in normal-weight individuals.
Original abstract
Objective: Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) regulates plasma lipid distribution. The present study aimed to investigate whether the CETP gene (Taq1B) polymorphism predisposes to Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) depending on obesity status.
Methods: We studied demographic, lifestyle and clinical information in 237 hospitalized patients (185 males) with a first event of an ACS and 237 controls matched by age and sex. CETP Taq1B genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis.
Results: Overall, the CETP genotype frequencies were, in patients: 14% (n = 33), 35% (n = 83) and 51% (n = 121) and in controls: 17% (n = 39), 33% (n = 78) and 50% (n = 120) for B2B2, B1B1 and B1B2 respectively (p = 0.72). A significant interaction (p for interaction <0.001) was observed between obesity status and CETP concerning the likelihood of having ACS. Therefore, we stratified our analysis by obesity status and observed that B2B2 was associated with a 0.27 times lower likelihood of having ACS among normal-weight people (OR = 0.27, p = 0.02). No significant relationships were observed among overweight or obese participants.
Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of a protective effect of the B2B2 genotype of the CETP Taq1B polymorphism on the likelihood of having a first event of ACS in normal-weight persons.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.