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The expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 in Chinese overweight and obese patients

International Journal of Obesity volume 33, pages 851–856 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCA1, ABCG1) and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) are the three most important cellular cholesterol transporters/receptor in regulating cholesterol efflux. We have investigated whether the expression of these transporters/receptor is altered in overweight and obese patients, and the potential association with the circulating adipokines.

Methods:

Adiponectin, leptin and resistin were assayed in two groups of healthy controls, overweight and obese patients. The expression of ABCA1, ABCG1 and SR-BI in monocytes was measured. Cholesterol efflux from monocyte-derived macrophages was also determined.

Results:

Circulating adiponectin was decreased, whereas leptin and resistin were increased in overweight and obese patients compared with healthy controls. ABCA1 expression was significantly decreased in overweight and obese patients (P<0.01), whereas the levels of ABCG1 and SR-BI were comparable between the two groups. Adiponectin was correlated with ABCA1 (r=0.44, P<0.001), but not with ABCG1 and SR-BI. No associations between leptin, resistin and the expression of ABCA1, ABCG1 and SR-BI were found. Cholesterol efflux from monocyte-derived macrophages to apolipoprotein AI or to autologous serum was significantly impaired in overweight and obese patients, which were correlated with ABCA1 expression (r=0.47, P<0.001; r=0.43, P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion:

The expression of ABCA1 in monocytes is reduced in overweight and obese patients, and the reduction in ABCA1 is associated with the impairment of cholesterol efflux from monocyte-derived macrophages.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the following colleagues at The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University for their generous help in completing this study: Dr Haiyang Xie for his technical assistant, Dr Lihong Qiu for recruiting volunteers and the colleagues from the Department of Clinical Biochemistry for performing the clinical biochemical measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    M Xu, H Zhou & C Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    J Wang

  3. State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Y Yu

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  1. M Xu
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  2. H Zhou
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Correspondence to Y Yu.

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Xu, M., Zhou, H., Wang, J. et al. The expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 in Chinese overweight and obese patients. Int J Obes 33, 851–856 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.120

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.120

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