Adiponectin deficiency suppresses ABCA1 expression and ApoA‐I synthesis in the liver

Abstract

Plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol levels are inversely correlated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. HDL is mainly assembled in the liver through the ATP‐binding cassette transporter (ABCA1) pathway. In humans, plasma HDL‐cholesterol levels are positively correlated with plasma adiponectin (APN) concentrations. Recently, we reported that APN enhanced apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I) secretion and ABCA1 expression in HepG2 cells. In the present study, we investigated HDL assembly in APN‐knockout (KO) mice. The apoA‐I protein levels in plasma and liver were reduced in APN‐KO mice compared with wild‐type‐mice. The ABCA1 expression in liver was also decreased in APN‐KO mice. APN deficiency might cause the impaired HDL assembly by decreasing ABCA1 expression and apoA‐I synthesis in the liver.