[Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP)].

Plasma CETP plays an important role in the reverse cholesterol transport system in conjunction with lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). CETP mediates transfer of cholesteryl ester from HDL to apo B containing lipoproteins and also mediates transfer of triglyceride from VLDL and IDL to HDL. In this review, molecular characteristics, mechanism of lipid transfer, site of synthesis, factors regulating production and activity of CETP and lipoprotein abnormalities in CETP deficiency were described. High activity of CETP is considered to promote atherosclerosis, because the lipoprotein changes resulting from CETP activity are completely atherogenic and animals who have low CETP activity are resistant to atherosclerosis.