Health / Medical Topics |
CETP 2 Allele
Expressed in liver, human CETP B2 Allele is a variant form of CETP Gene (BPI/LBP Family), which encodes Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein, a secreted plasma protein involved in the transfer of insoluble cholesteryl esters among lipoproteins in the reverse transport of cholesterol, a vital step in normal cholesterol metabolism and homeostasis. HDL cholesterol concentration is inversely related to the risk of coronary artery disease. CETP has a central role in HDL metabolism and may affect susceptibility to atherosclerosis; defects cause CETP deficiency. CETP B2 lacks a polymorphic TaqI restriction site in intron 1, present in CETP B1. B2 individuals show lower CETP activity and concentrations and higher plasma HDL-cholesterol; the B1 variant is associated with higher CETP and lower HDL-cholesterol. Atherosclerotic progression is more prevalent in B1 subjects than B2 subjects. (NCI Thesaurus)