title: Epidermal fatty-acid-binding protein: a new circulating biomarker associated with cardio-metabolic risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Dennis C Y
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Stephen C W
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Nelson M S
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Wat
authors.forename: Daniel Y T
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Carol H Y
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Pak C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sham
authors.forename: Karen S L
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C493412:FABP5 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins