Advertisement
Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI114446
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Find articles by Quinet, E. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Find articles by Agellon, L. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Find articles by Kroon, P. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Find articles by Marcel, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Find articles by Lee, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Find articles by Whitlock, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Find articles by Tall, A. in: PubMed | Google Scholar
Published February 1, 1990 - More info
Cholesteryl ester transfer activity is increased in plasma of cholesterol-fed rabbits. To investigate the mechanisms leading to changes in activity, we measured cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mass by RIA and CETP mRNA abundance by Northern and slot blot analysis using a human CETP cDNA probe in control (n = 8) and cholesterol-fed rabbits (n = 10). Cholesterol feeding (chow plus 0.5% cholesterol, 10% corn oil) for 30 d increased CETP mass in plasma 3.2-fold in the cholesterol-fed rabbits (12.45 +/- 0.82 micrograms/ml) compared with controls (3.86 +/- 0.38 micrograms/ml). In the hypercholesterolemic rabbit, liver CETP mRNA levels were increased 2.8 times control mRNA levels. Actin, apo E, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase, and albumin mRNA abundances were unchanged. In contrast to the widespread tissue distribution in humans, CETP mRNA was not detected in extrahepatic tissues of either control or cholesterol-fed animals. Using a sensitive RNase protection assay, the increase in liver CETP mRNA was detectable within 3 d of beginning the high cholesterol diet. Thus, in response to the atherogenic diet there is an early increase in liver CETP mRNA, probably causing increased CETP synthesis and secretion, and increased plasma CETP. The results indicate that the CETP gene may be regulated by diet-induced changes in lipid metabolism.
Images.