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GeneE
10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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DBI
diazepam binding inhibitor, acyl-CoA binding protein
Chromosome 2 · 2q14.2
NCBI Gene: 1622Ensembl: ENSG00000155368.18HGNC: HGNC:2690UniProt: A0A024RAF2
94PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transporter
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
extracellular exosomeGolgi apparatuslong-chain fatty acyl-CoA bindingidentical protein bindingneurodegenerative diseaseneuroinflammatory disorderhepatocellular carcinomaglioblastoma multiforme
✦AI Summary

DBI (diazepam binding inhibitor), also known as acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), is a multifunctional protein with dual roles in lipid metabolism and neuromodulation. As an intracellular lipid carrier, DBI binds medium- and long-chain acyl-CoA esters with high affinity and regulates fatty acid synthesis termination 1. DBI also functions as an endogenous ligand to GABA-A receptors, acting as an unconventional agonist and positive allosteric modulator at benzodiazepine binding sites, particularly affecting mechanosensitive neurons in dorsal root ganglia 23. Extracellularly, DBI is secreted through an autophagy-dependent pathway and acts as a systemic "hunger factor": elevated circulating DBI stimulates food intake and adipogenesis while suppressing autophagy 45. Clinically, elevated ACBP/DBI plasma levels associate with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma, metabolic syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome 67. DBI neutralization via antibodies, genetic knockout, or GABA-A receptor mutation alleviates liver disease, anorexia, Cushing's syndrome, and neuropathic pain 673. Thus, DBI represents both a biomarker and therapeutic target for metabolic, neoplastic, and neurological disorders.

Sources cited
1
DBI is the most extensively studied endozepine; displays region-specific positive modulation of GABA transmission through benzodiazepine receptor activation
PMID: 25600369
2
ACBP/DBI suppresses autophagy, stimulates food intake; elevated in steatosis, fibrosis, HCC with disease severity correlation; neutralization alleviates liver conditions and HCC
PMID: 41315195
3
ACBP/DBI is secreted via autophagy-dependent pathway; low plasma concentrations associate with poor anorexia nervosa prognosis; supplementation reverses stress-induced anorexia
PMID: 39141698
4
Elevated plasma ACBP/DBI in Cushing's syndrome; inhibition via multiple methods abolishes hyperphagia, weight gain, adiposity, and metabolic complications
PMID: 39578649
5
DBI highly expressed in glial cells; acts as positive allosteric modulator at neuronal GABA-A receptors; modulates mechanosensation and neuropathic pain
PMID: 38888973
6
ACBP/DBI neutralization has anorexigenic effects and enhances lipolysis, autophagy, and β-oxidation
PMID: 32157940
7
DBI identified four decades ago as benzodiazepine receptor ligand; identical to hepatic acyl-CoA binding protein; has dual roles in metabolism and neuromodulation
PMID: 34565656
8
Human DBI/endozepine is 86 amino acids; binds GABA receptor; encoded by same gene with membrane-associated variant
PMID: 1780036
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
neuroinflammatory disorderOpen Targets
0.19Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
glioblastoma multiformeOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
papillary thyroid carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
glycogen storage disease VIOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
oral squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasisOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 3Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
Wilson diseaseOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Treacher-Collins syndromeOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
glycine N-methyltransferase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis due to citrin deficiencyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
intrahepatic cholestasisOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Gilbert syndromeOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
APOBProtein interaction99%APOA1Protein interaction99%LCATProtein interaction99%APOA2Protein interaction97%PON1Protein interaction97%APOA5Protein interaction94%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Liver
100%
Heart
53%
Brain
29%
Lung
23%
Bone Marrow
21%
Ovary
10%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
DBIAPOBAPOA1LCATAPOA2PON1APOA5
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB2CB8 · 1.40 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.75LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF1.03 [0.60–1.75]
RankingsWhere DBI stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #5,076of 20,598
    Most Researched94 · top quartile
  • #16,339of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.75
Genes detectedDBI
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Endozepines.
PMID: 25600369
Adv Pharmacol · 2015
1.00
2
ACBP/DBI neutralization for the prevention and treatment of malignant and non-malignant liver diseases.
PMID: 41315195
Cell Death Dis · 2025
0.90
3
Acyl-CoA binding protein for the experimental treatment of anorexia.
PMID: 39141698
Sci Transl Med · 2024
0.80
4
Pathogenic role of acyl coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP) in Cushing's syndrome.
PMID: 39578649
Nat Metab · 2024
0.70
5
Peripheral gating of mechanosensation by glial diazepam binding inhibitor.
PMID: 38888973
J Clin Invest · 2024
0.60