MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY OF REVERSE CHOLESTEROL TRANSPORT

Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is the pathway by which peripheral cell cholesterol can be returned to the liver for catabolism. Evidenc e of specific functions for molecular structures within individual pla sma lipoprotein species has rapidly accumulated from recent studies us ing molecular and cellular physiology techniques. The removal of chole sterol from cells, like its delivery, appears to be specific and well regulated. Although further research will be needed, RCT can now be un derstood in molecular terms.