title: [ABCA-transporters: regulators of cellular lipid transport].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transport of lipids, which is orchestrated by a multitude of molecular factors, is a key feature of the physiology of living cells. A new group of transporter protein, the A-subclass of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, was recently discovered. ABCA-transporters play pivotal roles in cellular lipid transport and their discovery has brought important new insights into the molecular basis of this process. This review article presents the biology of ABCA-transport proteins and their implication for clinical medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature retrieved from Pubmed, including own research results, formed the basis for the article.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mutations in ABCA-transporter genes have been shown to result in hereditary diseases involving major physiologicical processes in the cardiovascular, respiratory, visual and integumentary systems. Accumulated evidence suggests that ABCA-transporters play critical roles in the pathogenesis of complex multifactorial disorders with a high incidence; such as atherosclerosis, age-related macula degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Klinisk kjemisk avdeling, Ullevål universitetssykehus, 0407 Oslo. armin.piehler@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Armin P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Piehler
authors.forename: Kari Bente Foss
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: Jürgen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Kierulf
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008053:Lipid Mobilization / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D008055:Lipids