An interaction between the human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and apolipoprotein A-I genes in transgenic mice results in a profound CETP-mediated depression of high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Abstract

We have previously described two transgenic mouse lines, one heterozygous for the human apo A-I gene and the other heterozygous for a human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) minigene driven by the mouse metallothionein-I gene promoter. In the current study, these two lines were crossed producing control, HuCETPTg, HuAITg, and HuAICETPTg mice to study the influence of CETP on HDL cholesterol levels, particle size distribution, and metabolism in animals with mouse and human-like HDL. In the HuCETPTg and HuAICETPTg animals, zinc induction approximately doubled plasma CETP activity, with no activity in plasma from the control and HuAITg animals. The only significant effect of CETP on lipoprotein subfraction cholesterol concentrations was for HDL-C. Compared to control animals, HuCETPTg animals had lower HDL-C, 20% before and 35% after Zn induction, and compared to HuAITg animals, HuAICETPTg animals had lower HDL-C, 35% before and 66% after Zn induction. Control and HuCETPTg HDL consist primarily of a single size population with a mean diameter of 10.00±0.10 nm and 9.71±0.05 nm, respectively. HuAITg HDL consists primarily of three distinct HDL size subpopulations with peak diameters of 10.35±0.08 nm, 8.80±0.06 nm, 7.40±0.10 nm, and HuAICETPTg HDL also consists primarily of three distinct HDL size subpopulations with peak diameters of 9.87±0.05 nm, 8.60±0.10 nm, 7.30±0.15 nm before, and 9.71±0.08 nm, 8.50±0.11 nm, 7.27±0.15 nm after zinc induction, respectively. Western blotting analysis of nondenaturing gradient gels of plasma with a monoclonal antibody to CETP indicated that in HuCETPTg and HuAICETPTg mice, 22 and 100%, respectively, of the CETP was HDL associated. Turnover studies with HDL doubly labeled with 125I apo A-I and 3H cholesteryl linoleate indicated that the CETP-induced fall in HDL-C was associated with increased HDL-cholesterol ester fractional catabolic rate in both the absence and presence of human apo A-I, suggesting CETP-mediated transfer of HDL-cholesterol ester to apo Bcontaining lipoproteins. In summary, these studies suggest that CETP has a much more profound effect on HDL cholesterol levels in transgenic animals expressing human apo A-I. This

Preβ high density lipoprotein has two metabolic fates in human apolipoprotein A-I transgenic mice

“…Plasma die-away of LFA-I (FCR of 4.37 Ϯ 0.75 day Ϫ1 ) was significantly faster than that for small LpA-I and significantly slower than that for pre␤ LpA-I particles (P Ͻ 0.05). The plasma clearance rate of small LpA-I particles was in good agreement with values obtained in other studies using whole HDL particles as tracer in hA-I Tg recipient mice (27,39,40).…”

Enlargement of High Density Lipoprotein in Mice via Liver X Receptor Activation Requires Apolipoprotein E and Is Abolished by Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Expression

“…CETP catalyzes the exchange of cholesterol and triglycerides between HDL and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles. CETP transgenic mice displayed reduced plasma HDL cholesterol levels especially on the human apoAI transgenic background (37,38). In our studies, CETP expression in mice resulted in total ablation of en- FIG.…”

Endotoxin and cytokines decrease serum levels and extra hepatic protein and mRNA levels of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in syrian hamsters.

“…That decreasing CETP levels may increase HDL cholesterol levels is suggested by an inverse relationship between plasma CETP levels and HDL cholesterol levels in CETP-deficient humans (35,36). In addition, overexpression of CETP in transgenic mice causes decreased HDL cholesterol levels (37,38), and cholesterol feeding of hamsters which increases CETP activity is associated with decreased HDL cholesterol levels (20).…”