The macrophage class A scavenger receptors (SR-A) type I and II mediate the uptake of modified low density lipoprotein (LDL), while the scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) mediates the selective uptake of cholesterol and cholesterol esters (CE) from HDLs into cells. SREC, Ox-LDL-R1, SR-A and SR-B1 may all be involved in the early development of atherosclerosis. SR-B1, an integral membrane protein, acts as a receptor for various ligands, including apoptotic cells, cholesterol ester, phospholipids, lipoproteins and phosphatidyl-serine. SR-B1, which may be involved in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, enables the movement of cholesterol between the cell surface and extracellular donors and acceptors. Although it is widely expressed, SR-B1 localizes primarily to cholesterol and sphingomyelin-enriched domains within the plasma membrane, called caveolae.
