Rader - Figure 3 - Efflux capacity questions
Macrophages need to rid themselves of cholesterol very actively, of course, because they
take a lot in, and any given person’s HDL system appears to have a uniquely integrated
ability to promote this cholesterol efflux from macrophages. As listed in the Figure, this
leads to several questions:
- Do people differ in their ability to promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages?
- Is this a stable trait over time in individuals?
- Are there certain variables that predict efflux capacity in individuals, and can
quantitation of this cholesterol efflux capacity serve as a measure of CVD risk,
independent of the level of HDL cholesterol or apoA-I concentration in the blood?
- Are there genetic variants that correlate with these differences?
- Can efflux capacity actually predict atherosclerotic vascular disease?
A final question that is beyond the scope of this review is whether certain types of
pharmacologic therapy might be able to promote cholesterol efflux.
Rader D.
J Clin Lipidol.
2011; 5(6).
