Abstract-Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfers cholesteryl esters from nonatherogenic high-density lipoproteins to potentially proatherogenic non-high-density lipoprotein fractions. Human genetic studies and human cohort studies have concluded that CETP gene polymorphisms associated with decreased CETP activity are accompanied by a significantly lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Inhibition of CETP in rabbits reduces development of diet-induced atherosclerosis. Inhibition of CETP in humans reduces non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol while increasing high-density lipoproteins cholesterol, consistent with a reduced risk of having an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event.
What Are the Effects of Inhibiting CETP on Plasma Lipids and HDL Function in Humans?The effects of CETP inhibition in humans treated with torcetrapib, 8 dalcetrapib, 9 evacetrapib, 10 anacetrapib, 11 and TA-8995 12 on plasma lipids are summarized in the Table. All of these inhibitors increase the concentration of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I. With the exception of dalcetrapib, they also reduce LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels. CETP inhibitors also reduce levels of the proatherogenic lipoprotein (a).Effects of CETP inhibition on HDL function have also been investigated. HDLs isolated from people treated with torcetrapib, 13 anacetrapib, 14 and TA-8995 12 have a normal or enhanced ability to efflux cholesterol from macrophages.
TorcetrapibThe effect of torcetrapib on clinical cardiovascular events was investigated in the ILLUMINATE trial that included 15 067 high-risk statin-treated people. 8 Torcetrapib increased HDL cholesterol levels by 72% and decreased LDL cholesterol levels by 25%. This trial was terminated after 18 months because of a statistically significant excess of deaths (93 versus 59) in those treated with torcetrapib. No single cause of death explained the harm caused by torcetrapib. There was also a significant 25% increase in ASCVD events in those taking torcetrapib.The explanation for the harm caused by torcetrapib is not known but may have been the consequence of off-target adverse effects of the drug, including increased blood pressure, 8 increased synthesis, secretion of aldosterone, 1 and increased endothelin-1 levels in the artery wall.
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DalcetrapibThe effect of dalcetrapib on clinical ASCVD events was investigated in the dal-OUTCOMES study that included 15 871 participants recruited soon after an acute coronary syndrome event.9 Treatment with dalcetrapib increased the concentration of HDL cholesterol by ≈30% but minimally affected LDL cholesterol and apoB levels. Treatment with dalcetrapib did not reduce ASCVD events.
9The failure of the dal-OUTCOMES trial may have been because this agent did not reduce the level of LDL cholesterol. However, it may also have been because this trial was conducted in patients soon after an acute coronary syndrome event at a time when HDL function is compromised.18 This explanation was supported by the observation in the place...