Biochemistry · Protein
CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) !
CETP moves cholesteryl esters from HDL to ApoB lipoproteins and brings triglycerides back.
Updated 2026-11-01
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Key facts
- Swaps HDL cholesteryl esters for VLDL and LDL triglycerides, without using energy.
- Liver and adipose tissue make it; it circulates bound to HDL.
- With high triglycerides the exchange rises: HDL fills with triglyceride, hepatic lipase shrinks it and it is cleared sooner (low HDL).
- Genetic CETP deficiency, common in Japan, gives very high HDL.
- Also called
- CETP
- Genes
- CETP
- Structure (PDB)
- 2OBD
Structure
- An elongated, banana-shaped protein about 12 nm long with an inner hydrophobic tunnel.
- Structure 2OBD shows two cholesteryl oleate molecules in the tunnel with phospholipids plugging its ends.
Regulation
- It rises with cholesterol-rich diets (via LXR).
Inhibitors and toxins
- Torcetrapib, dalcetrapib, evacetrapib and anacetrapib raise HDL; torcetrapib increased deaths and only anacetrapib modestly cut events.
Clinical notes
- Raising HDL with CETP inhibitors did not guarantee fewer heart attacks: the HDL number is not HDL function.
- The low HDL of hypertriglyceridaemia is explained by CETP and hepatic lipase.
Related conditions
Related
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein)
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein)
- VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein)
- LCAT (lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase)
- Lipoprotein metabolism
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What does CETP exchange?
HDL cholesteryl esters for VLDL and LDL triglycerides.
Why do high triglycerides lower HDL?
CETP loads HDL with triglyceride, hepatic lipase shrinks it and more ApoA-I is cleared by the kidney.
What did the CETP inhibitor trials teach?
That raising the HDL number is not enough to reduce cardiovascular events.
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Sources: CETP: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (human) (UniProt, 2026); 2OBD: Crystal Structure of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026); Plasma lipoprotein remodeling (R-HSA-8963899) (Reactome, 2026); HDL: The "Good" Cholesterol: MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.