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NPC1L1 and cholesterol transport
Author(s) -
Betters Jenna L.,
Yu Liqing
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.03.030
Subject(s) - ezetimibe , cholesterol , sterol , brush border , sterol o acyltransferase , reverse cholesterol transport , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , lipoprotein , vesicle , membrane
The polytopic transmembrane protein, Niemann–Pick C1‐Like 1 (NPC1L1), is enriched in the apical membrane of small intestine absorptive enterocytes where it mediates extracellular sterol transport across the brush border membrane. It is essential for intestinal sterol absorption and is the molecular target of ezetimibe, a potent cholesterol absorption inhibitor that lowers blood cholesterol in humans. NPC1L1 is also highly expressed in human liver. The hepatic function of NPC1L1 may be to limit excessive biliary cholesterol loss. NPC1L1‐dependent sterol uptake seems to be a clathrin‐mediated endocytic process and is regulated by cellular cholesterol content. Recently, NPC1L1 inhibition has been shown to have beneficial effects on components of the metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver, in addition to atherosclerosis.