Association between the TaqIB polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene locus and plasma lipoprotein levels in familial hypercholesterolemia

Abstract Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the exchange of triglycerides (TG) and cholesteryl ester between lipoprotein particles. Subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have been reported to have higher CETP activities, which could contribute to the lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and increased cardiovascular risk observed in some of these patients. Several polymorphisms have been reported in the CETP locus; the common TaqlB polymorphism is associated, in normolipidemic subjects, with decreased CETP activity and levels and with increased HDL-C levels. No data is available on the influence of this polymorphism in FH subjects. We have e…