Genetics
The CETP rs708272 genotype predicts statin response only in women with hyperlipidaemia (Malays J Med Sci 2023)
Original title: Gender Differences in the Association between Cholesteryl Esters Transfer Protein Polymorphism (rs708272) and Plasma Lipid Levels in Hyperlipidaemic Participants at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
In 229 hyperlipidaemic statin users (96.1% Malay) at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, researchers investigated whether the CETP rs708272 polymorphism, previously linked to statin efficacy, affects lipid-lowering response, comparing GG against combined GA plus AA genotypes. The minor allele frequency was 0.391 with no difference between sexes, and at baseline the SNP was associated with different LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in women but not men. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol fell significantly after statin treatment in both sexes regardless of genotype (P less than 0.001), but triglycerides fell only in women with the GG genotype, while HDL cholesterol was unaffected by statin treatment in either sex, indicating patient sex should be considered when assessing CETP rs708272 effects on lipid-lowering response.
Original abstract
Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the cholesteryl esters transfer protein (CETP) gene (rs708272) was reported to affect statin efficacy. This study investigated the association between CETP rs708272 and statin's lipid-lowering effects in hyperlipidaemic participants at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan.
Methods: A total of 229 hyperlipidaemic statin users (96.1% Malays) were recruited, and a single blood sample (3 mL) was obtained for DNA extraction. The genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP method and validated by sequencing analysis.
Results: The minor allele frequency for rs708272 in all participants was 0.391, with no difference between females and males. At the baseline, the SNP was associated with different low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and triglyceride (TG) levels in females, but not males, when the GG and GA+AA genotypes were compared using a dominant genetic model. Regardless of the genotype, the total cholesterol and LDL-c levels decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in both genders after statin treatment, but the TG levels decreased exclusively in females with the GG genotypes. In both genders, high density lipoprotein levels were unaffected before and after the statin treatment.
Conclusion: To improve the management of hyperlipidaemia, future research should consider patient gender when assessing the CETP rs708272 impact on LDL-c and TG.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.