Epidermal fatty-acid-binding protein: a new circulating biomarker associated with cardio-metabolic risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Epidermal fatty-acid-binding protein (E-FABP) is highly homologous to adipocyte FABP (A-FABP), which mediates obesity-related metabolic syndrome (MetS), diabetes and atherosclerosis in animals. Combined deficiency of E-FABP and A-FABP protects against the MetS and atherosclerosis in mice. This study investigated the association of serum E-FABP with cardio-metabolic risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis in humans.


RESULTS
The presence of E-FABP in human plasma was detected by tandem mass spectrometry. Serum E-FABP levels, determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 479 Chinese subjects (age: 55.4 ± 13.5 years; M/F: 232/247), correlated positively (P < 0.05 to <0.001, age-adjusted) with parameters of adiposity, adverse lipid profiles, serum insulin, A-FABP, and C-reactive protein levels and were higher in subjects with the MetS (P < 0.001 vs. no MetS). The association of E-FABP with the MetS was independent of A-FABP. Furthermore, serum E-FABP correlated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT; P < 0.001) and was independently associated with carotid IMT in men (adjusted P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
E-FABP is a new circulating biomarker associated with increased cardio-metabolic risk. It may contribute to the development of the MetS and carotid atherosclerosis in humans, independent of the effect of A-FABP.
Yeung
Dennis C Y
DC
Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
Wang
Yu
Y
Xu
Aimin
A
Cheung
Stephen C W
SC
Wat
Nelson M S
NM
Fong
Daniel Y T
DY
Fong
Carol H Y
CH
Chau
M T
MT
Sham
Pak C
PC
Lam
Karen S L
KS
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; C493412:FABP5 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins