HDL biology
Kiwifruit raises adipose CETP gene expression but not serum CETP activity in hamsters (Avicenna J Phytomed 2019)
Original title: Kiwifruit effect on adipose tissue cell size and cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene expression in high-fat diet fed Golden Syrian hamsters
Forty-two male Syrian hamsters were divided into normal-diet and high-fat-diet groups, with or without low or high doses of kiwifruit supplementation, for eight weeks. Kiwifruit supplementation significantly reduced adipocyte cell size and significantly increased gene expression of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in adipose tissue, in both normal-diet and high-fat-diet groups. Despite this rise in adipose CETP gene expression, serum CETP activity itself did not change with kiwifruit supplementation, and LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were also unaffected, though HDL cholesterol rose in high-fat-diet hamsters given the higher kiwifruit dose. The findings dissociate local adipose CETP gene expression from circulating CETP activity.
Original abstract
Objective: The effects of kiwifruit on the histology and cell size of adipose tissue in hyperlipidemic models have not yet been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of kiwifruit on the adipose tissue cell size and activity as well as the gene expression of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in high-fat diet (HFD) fed hamsters.
Materials And Methods: Forty-two male Syrian hamsters were divided into six groups. Control normal (CN) hamsters received normal diet, control HFD (CHF) were fed with a HFD plus a normal diet (15% butter fat + 0.05% cholesterol + a normal diet). Two groups were fed with normal diet including kiwifruit (1.86; Nd.1 or 3.73 g/kg; Nd.2) and two groups were fed with HFD including kiwifruit (1.86;HFd.1or 3.73 g/kg; HFd.2), for 8 weeks.
Results: Histological examination of adipose tissue showed that the cell size was significantly reduced in the kiwifruit-treated groups (low and high dose) in comparison to their control groups (p<0.05). Kiwifruit supplementation (low and high dose) in normal and HFD groups significantly increased gene expression of CETP in adipose tissue. Kiwifruit had no significant effect on serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglyceride. Although, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration increased in HFD-fed hamsters supplemented with 3.73 g/kg of kiwifruit (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Kiwifruit consumption reduces the size of adipocytes and increases the expression of CETP gene in adipose tissue cells. Despite the increases in CETP expression in adipose tissue, its activity in serum was not changed following kiwifruit supplementation.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.