The macrophage plays a key role in atherogenesis, including in the uptake of cholesterol which lead to the formation of fatty streaks. So its ability to eliminate cholesterol in excess is critical for the development of pathology. Macrophage is also involved in the uptake of apoptotic cells present in lesions, which is a determining process in terms of inflammation and stability of the atherosclerotic plaque. My work was to evaluate the role of the ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1), in these key mechanisms of atherogenesis. Thus, we have demonstrated that ABCG1 is both involved in the process of efflux in foam cells loaded with cholesterol free but it also participates in the mechanism of phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies. Thus, through this work ABCG1 could be considered as a new therapeutic target of atherosclerosis.
