脂肪细胞型脂肪酸结合蛋白与胆固醇代谢

Association of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein with cholesterol metabolism

脂肪细胞型脂肪酸结合蛋白（FABP4）主要在脂肪组织和巨噬细胞中表达，与脂质分子一起，主要生理作用为参与细胞内部的脂肪酸转运和靶向定位。近来许多研究表明FABP4与胆固醇代谢关系密切，FABP4可通过影响胆固醇代谢相关的关键基因转录来调节胆固醇的代谢、储存和转运。随着FABP4抑制剂研究的深入，以FABP4为靶点的药物有望成为预防和治疗肥胖、2型糖尿病、高胆固醇血症以及动脉粥样硬化等疾病的新策略。

Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein （FABP4） is abundantly expressed in adipocytes and macrophages, and the physiologic function of this lipid chaperone is involved in the intracellular trafficking and targeting of fatty acids inside cell. Studies have shown that FABP4 plays a significant role in cholesterol metabolism. FABP4 can affect some key gene expression for cholesterol metabolism, thus regulate the metabolism, storage, and trafficking of cholesterol. As the development of FABP4 inhibitors, drugs targeting FABP4 are possible and can lead to a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and atheroselerosis.