Study of I405V polymorphism of cholesterol ester transfer protein gene in efficacy of statins on plasma level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol

Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) plays a pivotal role in high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway. CETP gene variants such as I405V that affect HDL cholesterol directly modulate CETP gene transcriptional activity. This study aims to determine influence of I405V polymorphism of CETP in statin effects with regard to plasma HDL cholesterol levels. In this descriptive analytical study, 196 adult patients with LDL-C more than 120 mg/dL were divided into two groups based on the lovastatin and atorvastatin using. There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics between two groups. Lipid profile was measured in all subjects before and after treatment and I405V polymorphism of CETP promoter was studied using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). Data were compared using paired t-test and ANOVA. Cholesterol was decreased and HDL was increased in VV genotype more than other genotypes by lovastatin and atorvastatin (P<0.05) but ApoA1 was increased in II genotype. ApoA1 also was increased in IV by atorvastatin despite of lower HDL. Lovastatin and specially atorvastatin increased ApoA1 in HDL particles in II genotype more than other genotypes. Therefore, treatment with lovastatin and atorvastatin is more effective in patients with II genotype for preventing of CAD.