ABCA1 and atherosclerosis: Due to the role of ABCA1 in mediating cholesterol efflux from the cells at the initial stage of RCT, the mutations in its gene, which affect the expression of ABCA1 or lead to defects in its protein structure, should disrupt free cholesterol and phospholipid transport across the plasma membrane, the formation of nascent HDL-C particles associated with the development of atherosclerosis and CVD.