To better understand the relationship between CETP and atherosclerosis, there are some very interesting data from animals. This Figure summarizes the effects of CETP in rodents, which are naturally deficient in CETP and are naturally resistant to the development of atherosclerosis. On the other hand and very interestingly, expression of CETP in transgenic mice and rats increases their susceptibility to atherosclerosis in most models (although there are exceptions).
J Clin Lipidol. 2011; 5(6).