Fatty acids from cheese stimulate cholesterol efflux by ATP-binding cassette transporters

It is essential to remove cholesterol from the body to suppress atherosclerosis progression. ABCA1 and ABCG1 transport cholesterol in peripheral cells, including macrophages, and function in the formation of high-density lipoprotein. ABCG5/ABCG8 functions in the efflux of cholesterol from the body. In this study, we investigated the effects of Camembert cheese extracts and ingredients on cholesterol transport via ABC transporters. Camembert cheese extracts were added to baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells expressing ABCA1, ABCG1, or ABCG5/ABCG8, and THP-1 cells expressing ABCA1 and ABCG1. Organic solvent extracts of Camembert cheese increased cholesterol efflux in THP-1 and BHK cells expressing ABCA1 or ABCG5/ABCG8. After fractionation of the extracts, palmitoleic acid was found to increase cholesterol efflux by ABCA1 and ABCG5/ABCG8, whereas 10-hydroxypalmitic acid increased it by ABCA1 and ABCG1. It is suggested that palmitoleic acid and 10-hydroxypalmitic acid in Camembert cheese may prevent the accumulation of excess cholesterol in cells by stimulating ABC transporters.