Inhibitors of cholesteryl ester transfer protein – a new approach to coronary artery disease

Abstract

Despite the use of the statins to lower low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, leading to major reductions in the mortality and morbidity that is associated with coronary artery disease, considerable mortality and morbidity remains. Increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels has been associated with reduced coronary artery disease mortality and morbidity in several studies. Inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity leads to increased HDL-cholesterol. In cholesterol-fed rabbits, antibodies against CETP increased HDL-cholesterol and decreased atherosclerotic lesions. In healthy subjects with mild dyslipidaemia, the CETP inhibitors JTT-705 and torcetrapib increased HDL-cholesterol and decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Increasing HDL-cholesterol with CETP inhibitors is a new approach to dyslipidaemia that requires further investigation, especially in patients who have coronary artery disease.

Keywords::

• antibodies against CETP
• cholesteryl ester transfer protein
• coronary artery disease
• HDL-cholesterol
• JTT-705
• LDL-cholesterol
• torcetrapib