Hepatic expression of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) is a positive regulator of macrophage reverse cholesterol transport in vivo

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Abstract

Hepatic expression of the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) promotes selective uptake of HDL cholesterol by the liver and is believed to play a role in the process of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). We hypothesized that hepatic SR-BI expression is a regulator of the rate of integrated macrophage-to-feces RCT and used an in vivo model to test this hypothesis. Cholesterol-loaded and [3H]cholesterol-labeled J774 macrophages were injected intraperitoneally into mice, after which the appearance of the [3H]cholesterol in the plasma, liver, and feces over 48 hours was quantitated. Mice overexpressing SR-BI in the liver had significantly reduced [3H]cholesterol in the plasma but markedly increased [3H] tracer excretion in the feces over 48 hours. Conversely, mice deficient in SR-BI had significantly increased [3H]cholesterol in the plasma but markedly reduced [3H] tracer excretion in the feces over 48 hours. These studies demonstrate that hepatic SR-BI expression, despite its inverse effects on steady-state plasma HDL cholesterol concentrations, is an important positive regulator of the rate of macrophage RCT.

Authors

YuZhen Zhang, Jaqueline R. Da Silva, Muredach Reilly, Jeffrey T. Billheimer, George H. Rothblat, Daniel J. Rader