Introduction:
A potential approach to reduce CV risk is to increase HDL-C levels. This could be achieved by reducing cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity. Dalcetrapib, which modulates CETP activity by changing its conformation and raises HDL-C without inhibiting CETP-induced pre-β-HDL formation in humans, was shown to decrease progression of atherosclerosis in rabbits.
Hypothesis:
Investigate the modifications of HDL particle size distribution and cholesterol efflux capacity of serum produced by dalcetrapib in normocholesterolemic rabbits.
Methods:
New Zealand white rabbits were treated with dalcetrapib (300 mg/kg as food admix) or placebo for 14 days. We evaluated CETP conformation and mass by ELISAs (including antibodies sensitive to conformational change), CETP activity by fluorescent lipid transfer, lipid profile and apoA-I distribution in HDL subclasses by 2D-non denaturing gradient gels (2D-NDGGE). Cholesterol efflux capacity of rabbit sera was determined after loading cells with
3
H-free cholesterol, using HepG2 hepatocytes to measure SR-BI-dependent efflux and by inducing ABCA1 or ABCG1 expression in BHK cells.
Results:
Dalcetrapib modified the conformation of rabbit CETP
in vitro
and
in vivo
and, after 14 days, this was associated with increased CETP mass (+50%, p<0.001) and reduced CETP activity (-86%, p<0.001). Total cholesterol was increased with dalcetrapib (+178%, p<0.001), due to a higher HDL-C level. In contrast, dalcetrapib reduced LDL-C and triglycerides by 41% (p<0.01) and 48% (p<0.001). Serum analysis by 2D-NDGGE showed that total rabbit apoA-I was increased 1.7- fold in animals treated with dalcetrapib. This was associated with an increase in large HDL but also in small α-migrating HDL with pre-β-HDL size. Cholesterol efflux assays showed that ABCA1-, ABCG1- and SR-BI-dependent efflux were all increased in dalcetrapib-treated rabbits (+24%, p=0.038; +21%, p=0.021; +44%, p<0.001).
Conclusion:
Modulation of CETP activity and conformation by dalcetrapib increases HDL-C and apoA-I levels and affects apoA-I distribution in HDL subclasses. These changes are associated with increased cholesterol efflux capacity, suggesting that HDL functionality is preserved in dalcetrapib-treated chow-fed rabbits.
Influence of apolipoprotein composition of high density lipoprotein particles on cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity. Particles containing various proportions of apolipoproteins AI and AII.