HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
26 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
ⓘGeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
FABP1
fatty acid binding protein 1
Chromosome 2 · 2p11.2
NCBI Gene: 2168Ensembl: ENSG00000163586.11HGNC: HGNC:3555UniProt: P07148
163PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transporter
RESEARCH IMPACT
Trending
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
molecular carrier activitycellular response to hydrogen peroxideextracellular exosomeprotein bindinghepatocellular carcinomaacute kidney injuryneoplasmdiabetic nephropathy
✦AI Summary

FABP1 (fatty acid binding protein 1) is a cytosolic lipid carrier that binds free fatty acids, cholesterol, and their coenzyme A derivatives, playing central roles in hepatic and intestinal lipid metabolism 1. In the liver, FABP1 mediates lipoprotein-mediated cholesterol uptake and intracellular lipid transport 2. Mechanistically, FABP1 functions through interaction with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα/γ), regulating fatty acid uptake and oxidation 3. In enterocytes, FABP1 is essential for dietary fatty acid absorption, basolateral secretion, and chylomicron assembly, while also supporting cell proliferation 4. Dysregulation of FABP1 is implicated in multiple pathologic conditions. FABP1 overexpression in tumor-associated macrophages promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through PPARG/CD36-mediated fatty acid oxidation, with orlistat-mediated FABP1 inhibition synergizing with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy 5. In renal cell carcinoma, FABP1+ tumors drive angiogenesis via the PLG-PLAT axis under fatty acid reprogramming 6. Conversely, FABP1 downregulation via PPARα suppression contributes to IgA nephropathy-associated ferroptosis in mesangial cells 7. The human FABP1 T94A polymorphism is associated with dyslipidemias and NAFLD 1. These findings establish FABP1 as a therapeutic target across metabolic and malignant diseases.

Sources cited
1
FABP1 binds cholesterol and mediates lipoprotein-mediated cholesterol uptake in hepatocytes
PMID: 25732850
2
Intestinal PPARα induces FABP1 expression, which mediates fatty acid uptake; disruption of either reduces obesity and NASH
PMID: 35460276
3
FABP1 is overexpressed in tumor-associated macrophages in advanced HCC; FABP1 interacts with PPARG/CD36 to increase fatty acid oxidation; FABP1 inhibition with orlistat synergizes with anti-PD-1 therapy
PMID: 38007237
4
FABP1+ renal cell carcinoma cells promote tumor angiogenesis through the PLG-PLAT axis with endothelial cells under fatty acid reprogramming
PMID: 40518526
5
PPARα downregulation reduces FABP1 expression, leading to GPX4 suppression and ferroptosis in mesangial cells contributing to IgA nephropathy
PMID: 36147466
6
Human FABP1 differs structurally from rat FABP1 with a larger ligand binding cavity; the T94A polymorphism is associated with altered BMI, dyslipidemias, and NAFLD
PMID: 27117865
7
FABP1 depletion in enterocytes impairs oleate uptake, reduces basolateral secretion, decreases chylomicron assembly, and impairs cell proliferation
PMID: 28919479
Disease Associationsⓘ20
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.12Weak
acute kidney injuryOpen Targets
0.12Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.11Weak
diabetic nephropathyOpen Targets
0.11Weak
chronic kidney diseaseOpen Targets
0.10Weak
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.10Weak
non-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
Barrett's esophagusOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
SepsisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
kidney diseaseOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
COVID-19Open Targets
0.09Suggestive
liver dysplastic noduleOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
anemiaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
clear cell renal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
non-melanoma skin carcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
pulmonary fibrosisOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
colorectal cancerOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
APOA1Protein interaction99%FABP3Protein interaction95%SCARB1Protein interaction93%ALBProtein interaction93%APOA5Protein interaction92%CD36Protein interaction90%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Liver
100%
Brain
0%
Lung
0%
Ovary
0%
Heart
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
FABP1APOA1FABP3SCARB1ALBAPOA5CD36
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB7FXO · 1.30 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.49LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.88 [0.54–1.49]
RankingsWhere FABP1 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #2,752of 20,598
    Most Researched163 · top quartile
  • #15,092of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.49
Genes detectedFABP1
Sources retrieved26 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
26▼
1
Single-cell RNA-sequencing atlas reveals an FABP1-dependent immunosuppressive environment in hepatocellular carcinoma.
PMID: 38007237
J Immunother Cancer · 2023
1.00
2
Intestinal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α-fatty acid-binding protein 1 axis modulates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
PMID: 35460276
Hepatology · 2023
0.90
3
Single-cell multi-omics reveals that FABP1 + renal cell carcinoma drive tumor angiogenesis through the PLG-PLAT axis under fatty acid reprogramming.
PMID: 40518526
Mol Cancer · 2025
0.80
4
Hepatorenal syndrome.
PMID: 30213943
Nat Rev Dis Primers · 2018
0.70
5
Obacunone ameliorates high-fat diet-induced MAFLD by regulating the PPARγ-FABP1/CD36 axis and the gut-liver crosstalk.
PMID: 40850071
Phytomedicine · 2025
0.68