Submitted on February 5, 2008
Accepted on February 11, 2008
Development and Physiological Regulation of Intestinal Lipid Absorption. III. Intestinal Transporters and Cholesterol Absorption
David Y Hui1*, Eric D Labonte1, and Philip N Howles2
1 Pathology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
2 Pathology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States; University of Cincinnati, United States
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: huidy{at}email.uc.edu.
Intestinal cholesterol absorption is modulated by transport proteins in enterocytes. Cholesterol uptake from intestinal lumen requires several proteins on apical brush border membranes, including Niemann Pick C1 like-1 (NPC1L1), scavenger receptor B I, and CD36, while two ATP binding cassette half transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8 on apical membranes work together for cholesterol efflux back to the intestinal lumen to limit cholesterol absorption. NPC1L1 is essential for cholesterol absorption, but its function as a cell surface transporter or an intracellular cholesterol transport protein needs clarification. Another ATP transporter, ABCA1, is present in basolateral membrane to mediate HDL secretion from enterocytes.
