Lipoprotein Signatures of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein and HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibition

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundCETP inhibition reduces vascular event rates but confusion surrounds its low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol effects. We sought to clarify associations of genetic inhibition of CETP on detailed lipoproteins.Methods and ResultsWe used variants associated withCETP(rs247617) andHMGCR(rs12916) expression in 62,400 Europeans with detailed lipoprotein profiling from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Genetic associations were scaled to 10% lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Associations of lipoprotein measures with risk of incident CHD in three population-based cohorts (770 cases) were examined.CETPandHMGCRhad near-identical associations with LDL-cholesterol concentration estimated by Friedewald-equation.HMGCRhad a relatively consistent effect on cholesterol concentrations across all apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins.CETPhad stronger effects on remnant and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol but no effect on cholesterol concentrations in LDL defined by particle size (diameter 18–26 nm) (-0.02SD 95%CI: -0.10, 0.05 forCETPversus -0.24SD, 95%CI -0.30, -0.18 forHMGCR).CETPhad profound effects on lipid compositions of lipoproteins, with strong reductions in the triglyceride content of all highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) particles. These alterations in triglyceride composition within HDL subclasses were observationally associated with risk of CHD, independently of total cholesterol and triglycerides (strongest HR per 1-SD higher triglyceride composition in very-large HDL 1.35; 95%CI: 1.18, 1.54).ConclusionCETP inhibition does not affect size-specific LDL cholesterol but may lower CHD risk by lowering cholesterol in other apolipoprotein-B containing lipoproteins and lowering triglyceride content of HDL particles. Conventional composite lipid assays may mask heterogeneous effects of lipid-altering therapies.