VASCULOPROTECTIVE FUNCTION OF HDL FROM CETP-DEFICIENT SUBJECTS

Objective. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a plasma glycoprotein that catalyses the transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to the other plasma lipoproteins. Genetic deficiency of CETP is one of the known causes of primary hyperalphalipoproteinemia and represents a unique tool to evaluate how structural HDL alterations impact on HDL atheroprotective activity. Aim of the present study was to assess the vasculoprotective activity of HDL isolated from carriers of genetic CETP deficiency. Subjects and Methods. HDL and HDL subfractions were isolated from carriers of the R37X, Q165X and IVS7+1 CETP mutations. HDL and HDL subfractions from carriers were tested for their protein/lipid …