Genetics
CETP haplotype G raises early-onset heart-attack risk up to 6-fold in men, independent of HDL-C (Ann Hum Genet 2008)
Original title: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genetic variation and early onset of non-fatal myocardial infarction
Researchers genotyped five CETP polymorphisms (-2708 G/A, -971 A/G, -629 A/C, Intron-I TaqI G/A, exon-14 I405V) in 578 cases of first non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and 666 demographically similar controls from western Washington State. In men, individual SNPs showed little association with MI risk, but haplotype analysis found haplotype G associated with a 4.0- to 6.0-fold increased MI risk per copy (95% CI, 2.4-14.8) and haplotype B associated with significantly decreased risk (odds ratio 0.18, 95% CI, 0.04-0.75), compared with the most common haplotype D. In women, age- and race-adjusted odds ratios were significant for 4 of the 5 individual CETP variants. The authors conclude CETP genetic variation is associated with early-onset non-fatal MI risk independent of HDL-C levels, with the two risk-associated haplotypes evolutionarily most divergent from the others, though sex-specific findings require confirmation.
Original abstract
Although Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides between lipoprotein particles and thus plays a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport, the association of variations in the CETP gene with acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear. In this study we examined whether common genetic variation in the CETP gene is related to early-onset non-fatal MI risk in a population-based case-control study from western Washington State. Genotyping for the CETP -2708 G/A, -971 A/G, -629 A/C, Intron-I TaqI G/A and exon-14 A/G (I405V) SNPs was performed in 578 cases with first acute non-fatal MI and in 666 demographically similar controls, free of clinical cardiovascular disease, identified randomly from the community. In-person interviews and non-fasting blood specimens provided data on coronary heart disease risk factors. In men, there was little evidence for an association between single SNPs and MI risk, but in women the age- and race-adjusted OR was found to be significant in 4 out of the 5 CETP single variants. Haplotype analysis revealed two haplotypes associated with MI risk among men. As compared to men homozygous for the most common haplotype D (-2708 G, -971 G, -629 C, TaqI G and exon-14 A), the fully-adjusted multiplicative model identified haplotype G (-2708 G, -971 A, -629 A, TaqI G and exon-14 G) was associated with a 4.0-6.0-fold increased risk of MI for each additional copy; [95%CI 2.4-14.8] and haplotype B (-2708 G, -971 G, -629 A, TaqI A and exon-14 A) showed a significant decreased risk for early onset MI [OR = 0.18; 95%CI 0.04 - 0.75]. An evolutionary-based haplotype analysis indicated that the two haplotypes associated with the MI risk are most evolutionarily divergent from the other haplotypes. Variation at the CETP gene locus is associated with the risk of early-onset non-fatal MI. This association was found to be independent of HDL-C levels. These data and the sex-specific findings require confirmation in other populations.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.