The Tangier disease gene product ABC1 controls the cellular apolipoprotein-mediated lipid removal pathway

Richard M. Lawn, David P. Wade, Michael R. Garvin, Xingbo Wang, Karen Schwartz, J. Gordon Porter, Jeffrey J. Seilhamer, Ashley M. Vaughan, John F. Oram

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

668 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ABC1 transporter was identified as the defect in Tangier disease by a combined strategy of gene expression microarray analysis, genetic mapping, and biochemical studies. Patients with Tangier disease have a defect in cellular cholesterol removal, which results in near zero plasma levels of HDL and in massive tissue deposition of cholesteryl esters. Blocking the expression or activity of ABC1 reduces apolipoprotein-mediated lipid efflux from cultured cells, and increasing expression of ABC1 enhances it. ABC1 expression is induced by cholesterol loading and cAMP treatment and is reduced upon subsequent cholesterol removal by apolipoproteins. The protein is incorporated into the plasma membrane in proportion to its level of expression. Different mutations were detected in the ABC1 gene of 3 unrelated patients. Thus, ABC1 has the properties of a key protein in the cellular lipid removal pathway, as emphasized by the consequences of its defect in patients with Tangier disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)R25-R31
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume104
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1999
Externally publishedYes

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