[ABCA-transporters: regulators of cellular lipid transport].
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.
Piehler
Armin P
AP
Klinisk kjemisk avdeling, Ullevål universitetssykehus, 0407 Oslo. armin.piehler@medisin.uio.no
Haug
Kari Bente Foss
KB
Wenzel
Jürgen J
JJ
Kierulf
Peter B
PB
Kaminski
Wolfgang E
WE
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
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D008055:Lipids