Figure 1.

Cholesterol depletion inhibits [3H]-oleate uptake. COS cells were transiently transfected with FAT/CD36 and treated with 10 mM MβCD leading to a ~50% decrease in total cellular cholesterol (not shown). Afterwards [3H]-oleate uptake within 5 min was analysed. FAT/CD36 increased [3H]-oleate uptake significantly (p < 0.05). Cholesterol depletion decreased overall fatty acid uptake to less then 50% of control cells (p < 0.05). Data are expressed as mean and SEM of at least n = 6 experiments. The ratio has been arbitrarily set to 100% in cells that were not cholesterol depleted.