Interrelationship between ATP-binding cassette transporters and oxysterols

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters constitute a ubiquitous superfamily of membrane proteins responsible for the translocation of several substances across membranes using the chemical energy provided by ATP hydrolysis. ABC transporters participate in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cholesterol and lipid transportation and multidrug resistance. Oxysterols are the products of cholesterol oxidation, formed by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. The role of oxysterols in cholesterol metabolism and several diseases has been widely investigated, but many questions remain to be answered. Several lines of evidence link ABC transporter functions with cholesterol and oxysterol metabolism. This review discusses ABC transporters, oxysterols, and how they interact with each other.