Scavenger receptor Class B type I as a potential risk stratification biomarker and therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality globally. There are few useful markers available for CVD risk stratification that has proven clinical utility. Scavenger receptor B type I (SR-BI) is a cell surface protein that plays a major role in cholesterol homeostasis through its interaction with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) esters (CE). HDL delivers CE to the liver through selective uptake by the SR-BI. SR-BI also regulates the inflammatory response. It has been shown that SR-BI overexpression has beneficial, protective effects in atherogenesis, and there is considerable interest in developing antiatherogenic strategies that involve SR-BI-mediated increases in reverse cholesterol transport through HDL and/or low-density lipoprotein. Further investigations are essential to explore the clinical utility of this approach. Moreover, there is growing evidence showing associations between genetic variants with modulation of SR-BI function that may, thereby, increase CVD risk. The aim of the current review was to provide an overview of the possible molecular mechanisms by which SR-BI may affect CVD risk, and the clinical implications of this, with particular emphasis on preclinical studies on genetic changes of SR-BI and CVD risk.