High density lipoproteins (HDLs) have been proposed to function jointly with lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase and CETP to facilitate cholesterol transport from tissues to the liver. This mechanism, referred to as reverse cholesterol transport, is physiologically important because it maintains systemic cholesterol levels. CETP is responsible for neutral lipid transfer activity in plasma in numerous species. Since CETP is able to accelerate specifically the exchange of lipid components betwe