Fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3), also known as heart-type FABP (H-FABP), is a cytoplasmic protein encoded by the FABP3 gene located on chromosome 1p33-p32. FABP3 typically consists of 132 amino acids with a molecular weight of around 15 kDa. Post-translational modifications of FABP3 include phosphorylation, which may modulate its function and interactions with other proteins. This protein is primarily categorized as an intracellular protein belonging to the FABP family.
The main function of FABP3 is to bind and transport fatty acids within cells, facilitating their intracellular trafficking and metabolism. It plays a crucial role in lipid homeostasis and energy metabolism, particularly in tissues with high metabolic demands, such as cardiac and skeletal muscle. FABP3 is abundantly expressed in cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes), facilitating the uptake, transport, and utilization of fatty acids as an energy source during increased metabolic demand.
Various factors, including transcriptional regulators and signaling pathways involved in lipid metabolism and cellular stress responses, regulate FABP3 expression. For example, transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) can modulate FABP3 expression in response to changes in cellular lipid levels or metabolic demands.
FABP3 has been associated with several health conditions and diseases, particularly those involving cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction. Elevated levels of FABP3 in circulation have been observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction, making it a potential biomarker for cardiac injury. Additionally, altered expression or function of FABP3 has been implicated in conditions such as heart failure, skeletal muscle disorders, and metabolic syndrome, highlighting its importance in maintaining cellular lipid homeostasis and metabolic function.
FABP3 expression has been investigated as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in various diseases. For instance, elevated FABP3 levels in circulation have been correlated with the severity of cardiac injury and prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. FABP3 expression in skeletal muscle has also been implicated in muscle-wasting conditions and may be a marker of muscle damage or dysfunction. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that FABP3 expression can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and in diagnostic models to predict the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or screen preclinical AD.
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Synonyms
Fatty acid-binding protein, heart, Fatty acid-binding protein 3, Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein, Mammary-derived growth inhibitor, Muscle fatty acid-binding protein, 422 protein; Cardiac Fatty Acid Binding Protein; Fatty acid binding protein 11 (FABP11); Fatty acid binding protein 3, muscle and heart (mammary derived growth inhibitor); H-FABP; Heart type fatty acid binding protein; M FABP; Mammary derived growth inhibitor; MDGI; Muscle fatty acid binding protein; Mylein protein P2 homolog / adopocyte
Research Areas
Cardiovascular, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation