Cholesterol-loaded macrophage foam cells are a central component of atherosclerotic lesions. ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), the defective molecule in Tangier disease, mediates the efflux of phospholipid and cholesterol from cells to apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), reversing foam cell formation. This study investigated the effect of apoA-I on ABCA1 degradation and cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. After exposure of the cultured THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells to apoA-I for different time, cholesterol efflux, ABCA1 mRNA and protein levels were determined b...
