Which is the Best Predictor for the Development of Atherosclerosis Among Circulating Lipoprotein Lipase, Hepatic Lipase, and Endothelial Lipase?

Synthesis, Molecular Modeling and Biological Evaluation of Novel Trifluoromethyl Benzamides as Promising CETP Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia is considered a major risk factor for the progress of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the relocation of cholesterol esters from HDL to LDL. CETP inhibition produces higher HDL and lower LDL levels.

METHODS

Synthesis of nine benzylamino benzamides 8a-8f and 9a-9c was performed.

RESULTS

In vitro biological study displayed potential CETP inhibitory activity, where compound 9c had the best activity with an IC50 of 1.03 μM. Induced-fit docking demonstrated that 8a-8f and 9a-9c accommodated the CETP active site and hydrophobic interaction predominated ligand/ CETP complex formation.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacophore mapping showed that this scaffold endorsed CETP inhibitors features and consequently elaborated the high CETP binding affinity.

Hyperalphalipoproteinemia and Beyond: The Role of HDL in Cardiovascular Diseases

Hyperalphalipoproteinemia (HALP) is a lipid disorder characterized by elevated plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels above the 90th percentile of the distribution of HDL-C values in the general population. Secondary non-genetic factors such as drugs, pregnancy, alcohol intake, and liver diseases might induce HDL increases. Primary forms of HALP are caused by mutations in the genes coding for cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), hepatic lipase (HL), apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) and endothelial lipase (EL). However, in the last decades, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have also suggested a polygenic inheritance of hyperalphalipoproteinemia. Epidemiological studies have suggested that HDL-C is inversely correlated with cardiovascular (CV) risk, but recent Mendelian randomization data have shown a lack of atheroprotective causal effects of HDL-C. This review will focus on primary forms of HALP, the role of polygenic inheritance on HDL-C, associated risk for cardiovascular diseases and possible treatment options.