CHOLESTEROL EFFLUX AND USES THEREOF

摘要

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modulating cholesterol efflux in a cell, said method comprising modulating expression and/or activity of sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27) and/or caveolin- 1 in the cell. Applicants have found that cholesterol can be removed by cholesterol efflux which is regulated by CYP27 and/or caveolin-1. More suprisingly for CYP27 modulation the cholesterol effluxed remains in the for m of cholesterol and not as oxidized cholesterol as would be expected in the presence of CYP27. Preferably, CYP27 is modulated in macrophages and caveoli n- 1 is modulated in hepatic cells.