ABCG1 TRANSPORTER GENE EXPRESSION IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH ATHEROSCLEROSIS
V.V. Miroshnikova,1,2,* E.P. Demina,1 N.V. Mayorov,2 V.V. Davydenko,2 P.S. Kurjanov,2
V.N. Vavilov,2 A.G. Vinogradov,3 A.D. Denisenko,3 A.L. Schwarzman 1,3
1 Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina; 2 St. Retersburg I.P. Pavlov State Medical University
and 3 Institute of Experimental Medicine RAMS, St. Petersburg;
* e-mail: mutantropol@mail.ru
Accumulation of cholesterol in arterial wall macrophages is a main hallmark of atherosclerosis. The
ABCG1 transporter mediates cholesterol efflux to high density lipoproteins (HDL) and plays an important role
in macrophage foam cell formation. The goal of our study was to investigate the potential role of ABCG1 in atherosclerosis
development in humans. ABCG1 gene expression has been examined in leukocytes, monocytes
and monocyte-derived macrophages of patients with atherosclerosis and in the control group. Real time PCR
and Western blotting were used to determine ABCG1 mRNA and ABCG1 protein levels. Monocyte ABCG1
mRNA level was inversely correlated with the rate of artery occlusion (r = –0.45, P = 0.016). Patients with
100 % artery occlusions had decreased monocyte ABCG1 mRNA levels compared to patients who had smaller
plaques and controls (P < 0.05). ABCG1 mRNA (P < 0.001) and ABCG1 protein (P < 0.05) levels in macrophages
of patients with coronary artery stenosis were significantly reduced compared to the control group. No
significant correlation between the ABCG1 gene expression in mononuclear cells and HDL cholesterol concentration
has been found. Our study suggests that decrease in the ABCG1 gene expression in macrophages is associated
with atherosclerosis.
Key words: ABCG1, atherosclerosis, monocytes, macrophages
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