HDL biology
Human CETP transgenic pigs created as a new model for dyslipidaemia and atherosclerosis research (Lipids Health Dis 2017)
Original title: A novel swine model for evaluation of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis induced by human CETP overexpression
Researchers generated transgenic pigs expressing human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (hCETP) using somatic cell nuclear transfer, producing eight positive transgenic pigs alongside five negative cloned controls, of which five transgenic and five cloned pigs grew to healthy adulthood. On a normal diet, hCETP transgenic pigs showed no differences in body weight, liver function, kidney function, or plasma ions compared with unmodified pigs, but had higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and significantly decreased HDL cholesterol. Metabolomic analysis of plasma also revealed differences in metabolic components between transgenic, cloned, and unmodified pigs. The authors propose hCETP transgenic pigs as a new large-animal model for studying lipid disorders and atherosclerosis.
Original abstract
Background: The mechanism of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in lipid metabolism is still unclear. Furthermore, the relationship of CETP and atherosclerosis (AS) has been controversial. As pigs are a good model for both lipid and AS research, we investigated the lipid metabolism of human CETP (hCETP) transgenic pigs and explored the mechanism of CETP in lipid modulation.
Methods: Plasmids expressing the hCETP gene were designed, successfully constructed, and transfected into porcine fetal fibroblasts by liposomes. Using somatic cell nuclear transfer technology and embryonic transfer, hCETP transgenic pigs were generated. After the DNA, RNA, and protein levels were identified, positive hCETP transgenic pigs were selected. Blood samples were collected at different ages to evaluate the phenotypes of biochemical markers, and the metabolomes of plasma samples were analyzed by liquid mass spectrometry.
Results: Eight positive hCETP transgenic pigs and five negative cloned pigs were generated by transgenic technology. Finally, five hCETP transgenic and five cloned pigs were grown healthily. After feeding with a normal diet, hCETP transgenic pigs compared with unmodified pigs had no significant differences in body weight, liver function, kidney function, or plasma ions, while total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were higher than in unmodified pigs, and high-density lipoprotein was significantly decreased. Metabolomics analysis showed that there were differences in metabolic components between hCETP transgenic pigs, cloned pigs, and unmodified pigs.
Conclusions: In this study, we created hCETP transgenic pigs that could serve as an excellent model for lipid disorders and atherosclerosis.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.