title: The intestinal fatty acid binding protein is not essential for dietary fat absorption in mice.
abstract: The intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) belongs to a family of 15 kDa clamshell-like proteins that are found in many different tissues. So far, nine types have been identified. Their primary structures are highly conserved between species but somewhat less so among the different types. The function of these proteins, many of which are highly expressed, is not well understood. Their ability to bind lipid ligands suggests a role in lipid metabolism, but direct evidence for this idea is still lacking. We tested the hypothesis that I-FABP serves an essential role in the assimilation of dietary fatty acids by disrupting its gene (Fabpi) in the mouse. We discovered that Fabpi-/- mice are viable, but they display alterations in body weight and are hyperinsulinemic. Male Fabpi-/- mice had elevated plasma triacylglycerols and weighed more regardless of the dietary fat content. In contrast, female Fabpi-/- mice gained less weight in response to a high-fat diet. The results clearly demonstrate that I-FABP is not essential for dietary fat absorption. We propose that I-FABP functions as a lipid-sensing component of energy homeostasis that alters body weight gain in a gender-specific fashion.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Summit, New Jersey 07901, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vassileva
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huwyler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Agellon
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Toth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001836:Body Weight Changes; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004041:Dietary Fats; C082667:Fabp5 protein, mouse; C086936:Fabp7 protein, mouse; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins