**11. Concluding Remarks**

By regulating cholesterol homeostasis and plasma membrane dynamics, ABCA1 is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. ABCA1 protects cells from cholesterol toxicity by promoting cholesterol efflux. In addition, by regulating plasma membrane dynamics, ABCA1 plays a role in cell signaling and microparticle formation. Through these mechanisms, ABCA1 is involved in the pathogenesis of a broad array of diseases including dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, thrombosis, neurological disorders, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, viral infection, and cancer progression. However, most of these diseases have a complex etiology, where ABCA1 function is one of several factors playing a role in the pathophysiological process. Finally, although ABCA1 has been proposed as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration, viral infections and other diseases, because the level of pleiotropy of this protein is high, tissue specific ABCA1 targeting may be important to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. A great deal of research is needed to further understand its physiological and pathological role, and the possibilities of targeting ABCA1 for therapy.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Acknowledgments:** All figures and graphical abstract were created with BioRender.com.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
