Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein: a novel adipokine involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic and vascular disease?

Abstract

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (AFABP, also known as aP2 and FABP4) has recently been introduced as a novel fat-derived circulating protein. AFABP serum concentrations are positively correlated with markers of the metabolic syndrome and vascular disease in various cross-sectional and interventional studies. Furthermore, a small set of prospective studies indicates that high AFABP serum levels at baseline predict the risk for metabolic and vascular morbidity and mortality. Studies in Afabp (also known as Fabp4) knockout mice and AFABP inhibitortreated animals suggest that total AFABP promotes insulin resistance, hypertriacylglycerolaemia and atherosclerosis by ligand/ligand delivery, as well as ligand-independent mechanisms. In contrast, the pathophysiological significance of circulating AFABP and the mechanisms leading to its release remain to be established. The current review summarises recent findings on the regulation and potential role of AFABP in metabolic and vascular disease.

Metabolic complications and selected cytokines in HIV‑infected individuals

“…14,31 Baseline serum FABP4 levels were considered to predict the risk for metabolic complications in HIV-infected patients. 13,32 FABP4 also correlated with glucose, insulin, and TG concentrations in our study. The reported differences may be associated with the fact that, unlike in our study, the previous studies recruited patients with obesity and metabolic complications.…”

The role of lipids in psoriasis

“…Higher FABP-4 concentrations have been noted in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes mellitus and obesity, which are psoriasis-associated metabolic diseases. A-FABP is also a predictor for CVD and MS [45]. The concentrations of other FABPs in the serum of psoriatic patients has so far been assessed in one study [46].…”

“…Większe stężenia FABP-4 stwierdzono w niealkoholowym stłuszcze-niu wątroby (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease -NAFLD), cukrzycy, otyłości -chorobach metabolicznych zwią-zanych z łuszczycą. A-FABP jest także wskaźnikiem predykcyjnym CVD i MS [45]. Tylko w jednej pracy badano stężenia innych FABPs w surowicy osób z łuszczycą [46].…”

Ethanol extracts of <i>Aster yomena</i> (Kitam.) Honda inhibit adipogenesis through the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

“…This transcription factor also enhances the differentiation of preadipocytes and the expression of down-stream genes associated with fatty acid metabolism (34,35). In addition to the activation of adipogenic transcription factors, transactivating adipocyte-specific genes such as aP2 and leptin are also critically important for the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes (8,10). Therefore, the inhibition of adipogenic transcription and adipocyte-specific factors would decrease the adipocyte differentiation associated biosynthesis of fatty acids and TGs.…”

“…The differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes is accompanied by the sequential expression and activation of adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in a coordinated manner (6,7). In the final stages of the differentiation, adipocytes secrete adipose tissue-specific products, including adipocyte-specific fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and leptin (8)(9)(10)(11). After differentiation, they regulate the lipid metabolism by synthesizing lipolytic enzymes such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and hormone-sensitive lipase (12,13).…”