Genetics
CETP promoter variants that raise HDL cholesterol also lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease in Taiwanese adults (Genes 2019)
Original title: Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Genetic Variants Associated with Risk for Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Kidney Disease in Taiwanese Population
This study investigated CETP gene variants for their association with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk and the complications of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy in 3023 Taiwanese individuals (1383 without T2D, 1640 with T2D), also examining CETP expression in T2D (db/db) mice. The A-alleles of rs3764261, rs4783961, and rs1800775 were each independently associated with increases in HDL-cholesterol of 2.86, 1.71, and 0.91 mg/dL per allele respectively. The rs4783961 A-allele was significantly associated with reduced T2D risk (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.96), and the rs1800775 A-allele was significantly associated with lowered DKD risk (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.96). CETP expression was significantly decreased in the kidneys of T2D mice compared to controls (0.16 vs 0.21, p=0.02). The authors conclude that CETP promoter variants associated with higher HDL-cholesterol confer lower T2D and DKD risk in this population.
Original abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays an important role in lipid metabolism. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increase the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study investigated CETP gene variants to assess the risk of T2D and specific complications of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy. Towards this, a total of 3023 Taiwanese individuals (1383 without T2D, 1640 with T2D) were enrolled in this study. T2D mice (+Leprdb/+Leprdb, db/db) were used to determine CETP expression in tissues. The A-alleles of rs3764261, rs4783961, and rs1800775 variants were found to be independently associated with 2.86, 1.71, and 0.91 mg/dL increase in HDL-C per allele, respectively. In addition, the A-allele of rs4783961 was significantly associated with a reduced T2D risk (odds ratio (OR), 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71‒0.96)), and the A-allele of rs1800775 was significantly related to a lowered DKD risk (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64‒0.96). CETP expression was significantly decreased in the T2D mice kidney compared to that in the control mice (T2D mice, 0.16 0.01 vs. control mice, 0.21 0.02; p = 0.02). These collective findings indicate that CETP variants in the promoter region may affect HDL-C levels. Taiwanese individuals possessing an allele associated with higher HDL-C levels had a lower risk of T2D and DKD.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.