HDL Particle Size Is a Critical Determinant of ABCA1-Mediated Macrophage Cellular Cholesterol Export

Abstract

Small, dense HDL subfractions are the most efficient mediators of cholesterol efflux, and ABCA1 mediates cholesterol efflux to small dense HDL and to lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I. HDL-directed therapies should target increasing the concentrations or the cholesterol efflux capacity of small, dense HDL species in vivo.