Shifting gears: liver SR-BI drives reverse cholesterol transport in macrophages.
Cholesterol efflux from macrophages, the first step in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), is assumed to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, in vivo proof supporting this hypothesis is lacking, due to difficulties in determining the activity of this first step in RCT. In this issue of the JCI, Zhang et al. apply their recently developed method for measuring RCT in vivo to estimate RCT in mouse models with varying levels of HDL turnover. A surprisingly efficient clearance of cholesterol to feces is observed in mice overexpressing hepatic scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), whereas in SR-BI-knockout mice, cholesterol clearance is diminished. The study demonstrates that hepatic SR-BI is a positive regulator of macrophage RCT in vivo.
van der Velde
Astrid E
AE
Academic Medical Center Liver Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Groen
Albert K
AK
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000235:genetics; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
D018955:CD36 Antigens; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL