Pros and cons of inhibiting cholesteryl ester transfer protein

Whether or not it is desirable to inhibit cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has been an important question for over fifteen years since genetic CETP deficiency was found. Recently, some epidemiological studies which have been reported in Japan as well as Western countries help to clarify the atherogenicity of human subjects with mutations or polymorphisms in the CETP gene. In addition, some experimental atherosclerosis studies, in which CETP was inhibited in rabbits with different approaches, have been reported. There was a considerable difference in the atherogenicity of human CETP deficiency and CETP-inhibited rabbits. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in this field as well as discussing the significance of CETP in reverse cholesterol transport, a major protective system against atherosclerosis.