Contribution of cholesteryl ester transfer protein and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase to HDL size distribution.

High‐density lipoproteins (HDL) includes a heterogeneous class of lipoproteins grouped into various subclasses that seem to have different antiatherogenic function. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) play an active role in HDL remodeling. This study was designed to define the role of CETP and LCAT activities on HDL‐cholesterol (HDL‐C) plasma levels and HDL size distribution, as determined by nondenaturating polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis in 47 clinically healthy Mexican individuals without personal and family history of coronary heart disease. Surprisingly, plasma activities of CETP (29 ± 4.1% of transfer) and LCAT (4.8 ± 2.2% of esterification) did not correlate either with HDL‐C plasma levels or with any other lipid parameter, indicating the poor contribution of these proteins to the lipid profile. The CETP activity showed a negative correlation with small HDL3b (r = − 0476, P < 0.05), whereas LCAT was positively associated with this HD...