title: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in atherosclerosis.
abstract: Macrophages play a central role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In the nascent lesion, macrophages transform into foam cells through the excessive accumulation of cholesteryl esters. Dysfunctional lipid homeostasis in macrophages and foam cells ultimately results in the breakdown of membrane integrity and cell death. Studies within the past 2 years have implicated a defined subset of multispan transmembrane proteins, the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, in macrophage lipid homeostasis. The recent finding that ABCA1, beyond its function as a major regulator of plasma high-density lipoprotein metabolism, exerts significant antiatherosclerotic activities has provided the first direct evidence for the role of an ABC transporter in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Germany. gerd.schmitz@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C577836:ABCA1 protein, human; D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters