[1] Adiponectin induces ABCA1-mediated reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages by activation of PPAR-γ and LXRα/β.
However, a number of conditions that increase reverse cholesterol transport (e.g. being male) will reduce HDL-C due to the greater clearance of HDL, making such a test unreliable.
[7] The actual cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is measured directly: one takes a blood sample from the patient, isolates the serum, and removes any ApoB-containg particles from it.
Mouse macrophages are incubated in an ACAT inhibitor and radioisotope-labelled cholesterol, then have their efflux ability "woken up" with an ABCA1 agonist before use.
The macrophages are then recovered to quantify their change in radioactivity compared to a control batch.