Overexpression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein increases the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters in microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3).

Objective: To determine the effect of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) overexpression on the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) in an endothelial cell line (bEnd.3).

Methods: The StAR gene was induced in bEnd.3 cells with adenovirus infection. The infection efficiency was detected by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and fluorescence microscopy. The expressions of StAR gene and protein levels were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. The gene and protein levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot after StAR overexpression.

Results: The result shows that StAR was successfully overexpressed in bEnd.3 cells by adenovirus infection. The mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were greatly increased by StAR overexpression in bEnd.3 cells.

Conclusion: Overexpression of StAR increases ABCA1 and ABCG1 expressions in endothelial cells.