Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. It effectively lowers the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increases the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the human plasma. This study identified novel and highly potent CETP inhibitors using virtual screening techniques. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the binding patterns of these inhibitors, with the top 50 compounds selected according to their predicted binding affinity. Protein-ligand interaction analyses were performed, leading to the selection of 26 compounds for further evaluation. A CETP inhibition assay confirmed the inhibitory activities of the selected compounds. The results of the MD simulations revealed the structural stability of the protein-ligand complexes, with the binding site remaining significantly unchanged, indicating that the five compounds (AK-968/40709303, AG-690/11820117, AO-081/41378586, AK-968/12713193, and AN-465/14952302) identified have the potential as active CETP inhibitors and are promising leads for drug development.
Introduction: Lipid-lowering therapies are well established for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Historically monotherapy studies have been performed, but the introduction of statins has led to these drugs being recognized as baseline therapies and to the investigation of combination therapy of both older and newer medications with them.
Areas Covered: Surrogate marker studies have shown additive effects on LDL-C, triglycerides and HDL-C of combination therapies with statins and these have extended to lipoprotein (a).
Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is linked to serious conditions like lacunar stroke and vascular dementia, but there's limited research on how managing traditional cardiovascular risk factors can specifically reduce stroke risk in cSVD.
This study used Mendelian randomization to explore genetic factors associated with various cardiovascular risk factors and how they relate to cSVD and lacunar stroke, examining data from large genetic studies.
Findings indicated that higher blood pressure and factors like diabetes, obesity, and smoking are linked to increased cSVD risk, while higher HDL levels and regular vigorous activity showed protective effects; blood pressure-lowering medications like calcium channel blockers were also found potentially beneficial.
Background: Dyslipidemia has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including thyroid dysfunction and immune disorders. However, whether circulating lipids and long-term use of lipid-lowering drugs influence the development of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effects of lipid-lowering drugs on AITD and explore their potential mechanisms.
Purpose Of Review: To review the evidence and describe the biological plausibility for the benefits of inhibiting cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) on multiple organ systems through modification of lipoprotein metabolism.
Recent Findings: Results from observational studies, Mendelian randomization analyses, and randomized clinical trials support the potential of CETP inhibition to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk through a reduction of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. In contrast, raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, as previously hypothesized, did not contribute to ASCVD risk reduction.
Anacetrapib, a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor previously under development, exhibited an usually extended terminal half-life and large food effect and accumulated in adipose tissue. Other CETP inhibitors have not shown such effects. Obicetrapib, a potent selective CETP inhibitor, is undergoing Phase III clinical development.
