CETP and atherosclerosis: In contrast, insights from Mendelian randomization of SNPs in other genes associated with isolated changes in HDL-C have shown no association with ASCVD.33 Therefore, it is hypothesized that reductions in ASCVD risk associated with polymorphisms in the CETP gene are achieved by a reduction of LDL-C and other atherogenic lipoproteins rather than an increase in HDL-C levels.