Fatty acid binding protein (FABP) inhibitors: a patent review (2012-2015).
BACKGROUND
Obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome are synergistically operating diseases that endanger human health. Many studies provide evidence for excessive free fatty acid (FFA) as the pathogenic factor of these diseases. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), which are responsible for the transfer of FFA to different cell compartments, play a key role in cellular functions. Therefore, the discovery and application of FABP inhibitors may be a potential strategy to control obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome diseases in humans.


METHODS
This review focuses on the applications of FABP inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and metabolic syndromes. A comprehensive description of patents related to FABP inhibitors from 2012 to 2015 is included.


CONCLUSIONS
FABP has proven to be a promising target for the treatment of obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, and there have been major advances in the development of FABP inhibitors for this purpose. However, there continue to be new claims for novel FABP inhibitors with higher activity and specificity. Moreover, FABP inhibitors are potential drugs for other applications involving anti-cancer and neurological regulatory functions.
a State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing , P. R. China.
Yan-Ting
YT
Wang
a State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing , P. R. China.
Chang-Hong
CH
Liu
a State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology , Nanjing University , Nanjing , P. R. China.
Hai-Liang
HL
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015195:Drug Design; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010330:Patents as Topic
D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
FABP; Obesity; atherosclerosis; diabetes; inhibitors; insulin resistance; metabolic syndrome; target