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Published on: June 30, 2021
ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-like 7 (ARL7) is induced by cholesterol loading and participates in apolipoprotein
Thomas Engel1, Aloys Lueken, Günther Bode
1Institut für Arterioskleroseforschung, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Domagkstr. 3, D-48149 Münster, Germany. engeltho@uni-muenster.de
Abstract:
Here, we identify ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-like 7 (ARL7) as the only ARF- and ARL-family member whose mRNA-expression is induced by liver X-receptor/retinoid X-receptor agonists or cholesterol loading in human macrophages. Moreover, subcellular distribution of mutant and wild type ARL7-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) supports that ARL7 may be involved in a vesicular transport step between a perinuclear compartment and the plasma membrane. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ARL7 over-expression on the cholesterol secretory pathway. We found that expression of wild type and dominant active ARL7-EGFP stimulated the rate of apolipoprotein AI-specific cholesterol efflux 1.7- and 2.8-fold. In contrast, expression of the dominant negative form of ARL7-EGFP led to approximately 50% inhibition of cholesterol efflux. This data is consistent with a model in which ARL7 is involved in transport between a perinuclear compartment and the plasma membrane apparently linked to the ABCA1-mediated cholesterol secretion pathway.
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