The cholesterol mobilizing transporter ABCA1 as a new therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. A hallmark of the developing atherosclerotic lesion is the appearance of cholesterol-laden macrophages in the artery wall. A cell membrane transporter called ABCA1 mediates the removal of excess cholesterol from macrophages into the lipoprotein pathway. This makes ABCA1 a promising new therapeutic target for reducing cholesterol deposits in tissues, eliminating excess cholesterol from the body, and preventing cardiovascular disease.
Oram
John F
JF
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6426, USA. joram@u.washington.edu
D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
C577836:ABCA1 protein, human; D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D002784:Cholesterol