The Role of ABC Transporters in Lipid Metabolism and the Comorbid Course of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranks among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. COPD rarely occurs in isolation and is often combined with various diseases. It is considered that systemic inflammation underlies the comorbid course of COPD. The data obtained in recent years have shown the importance of violations of the cross-links of lipid metabolism and the immune response, which are links in the pathogenesis of both COPD and atherosclerosis. The role of lipid metabolism disorders in the pathogenesis of the comorbid course of COPD and atherosclerosis and the participation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in these processes is discussed in this article. It is known that about 20 representatives of a large family of ABC transporters provide lipid homeostasis of cells by moving lipids inside the cell and in its plasma membrane, as well as removing lipids from the cell. It was shown that some representatives of the ABC-transporter family are involved in various links of the pathogenesis of COPD and atherosclerosis, which can determine their comorbid course.

Keywords: ABC transporters; COPD; atherosclerosis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; inflammation; lipid metabolism.

Figure 1

Schematic image of the involvement of ABC transporters in the pathogenesis of COPD and atherosclerosis.

Figure 2

Biological processes and molecular functions of ABC transporters in the pathogenesis of COPD and atherosclerosis.