1. [ABCA-transporters: regulators of cellular lipid transport].
- Author
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Piehler AP, Haug KB, Wenzel JJ, Kierulf PB, and Kaminski WE
- Subjects
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters genetics, ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters metabolism, Alzheimer Disease etiology, Alzheimer Disease genetics, Alzheimer Disease metabolism, Atherosclerosis etiology, Atherosclerosis genetics, Atherosclerosis metabolism, Humans, Lipid Metabolism genetics, Lipid Mobilization genetics, Lipid Mobilization physiology, Lipids blood, Macular Degeneration etiology, Macular Degeneration genetics, Macular Degeneration metabolism, Mutation, ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters physiology, Lipid Metabolism physiology
- 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., Material and Methods: Literature retrieved from Pubmed, including own research results, formed the basis for the article., Results and Interpretation: 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.
- Published
- 2007