Genetics
CETP TaqIB B2 allele more than doubles recurrent event risk in postinfarction patients with high HDL-C and CRP (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2010)
Original title: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein polymorphism (TaqIB) associates with risk in postinfarction patients with high C-reactive protein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels
Using a graphical exploratory analysis tool, researchers identified a high-risk subgroup of postinfarction patients defined by high HDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels, who had larger HDL particles and lower lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 than lower-risk patients. Testing the functional CETP TaqIB polymorphism (rs708272) in this subgroup, multivariable modeling found B2 allele carriers, who have lower CETP activity, at greater risk than B1 homozygotes (hazard ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.04-5.60; P=0.04), and B2 carriers also had higher serum amyloid A levels. CETP genotype differences in HDL subfraction distribution relative to non-HDL-C and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 may reflect impaired HDL remodeling. The authors conclude postinfarction patients with high HDL-C and CRP face increased recurrent event risk and should be specifically considered in future HDL-raising drug trials.
Original abstract
Objective: To investigate the roles of inflammation and a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) polymorphism potentially related to recent findings demonstrating coronary risk with increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level.
Methods And Results: A novel graphical exploratory data analysis tool allowed the examination of coronary risk in postinfarction patients relating to HDL-C and C-reactive protein levels. Results demonstrated a high-risk subgroup, defined by high HDL-C and C-reactive protein levels, exhibiting larger HDL particles and lower lipoprotein-associated phospholipaseA(2) levels than lower-risk patients. Subgroup CETP-associated risk was probed using a functional CETP polymorphism (TaqIB, rs708272). In the high-risk subgroup, multivariable modeling revealed greater risk for B2 allele carriers (less CETP activity) versus B1 homozygotes (hazard ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.04 to 5.60; P=0.04). Within the high-risk subgroup, B2 allele carriers had higher serum amyloid A levels than B1 homozygotes. Evidence also demonstrates that CETP genotypic differences in HDL subfraction distributions regarding non-HDL-C and lipoprotein-associated phospholipaseA(2) may potentially relate to impaired HDL remodeling.
Conclusions: Postinfarction patients with high HDL-C and C-reactive protein levels demonstrate increased risk for recurrent events. Future studies should aim at characterizing altered HDL particles from such patients and at elucidating the mechanistic details related to inflammation and HDL particle remodeling. Such patients should be considered in drug trials involving an increase in HDL-C level.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.