ABCA1 and diabetes mellitus: ABCA1 expression is decreased in the liver and peritoneal macrophages of diabetic compared to control mice and protein levels have been reported to be reduced in mouse models of diabetes.[12], [13] In human studies, fibroblast ABCAI function has been shown to be impaired by advanced glycation end products [14] and we have previously observed an inverse relationship between ABCA1 expression in peripheral leucocytes and fasting glucose in healthy young and middle-aged men.[15] These findings suggested a potential mechanism for the hyperglycaemia-induced increased risk of early vascular disease.