FABP3 (fatty acid binding protein 3) is a cytosolic protein that binds and transports long-chain fatty acids and their acyl-CoA esters 1. The protein exhibits tissue-specific expression with high levels in breast, muscle, and heart tissue 2. FABP3 functions through multiple mechanisms: it regulates intracellular lipid transport and metabolism 1, facilitates fatty acid oxidation 1, and acts as a chaperone for polyunsaturated fatty acids 3. Mechanistically, FABP3 mediates lipid signaling and can trigger ferroptosis, lipid peroxidation, and apoptotic pathways through BAX-containing mitochondrial pores 45. Clinically, FABP3 dysregulation contributes to multiple disease states. In type 2 diabetes and obesity, FABP3 silencing in pancreatic beta cells reduces fatty acid uptake and protects against lipotoxicity-induced inflammation and apoptosis 1. In cancer, FABP3 upregulation promotes proliferation and tumor progression across breast, brain, lung, gastric, and melanoma cancers through ferroptosis and hypoxia-related mechanisms 3. In neurodegenerative diseases, elevated CSF FABP3 serves as a biomarker for microglial activation in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease 6. In ischemic stroke, FABP3 accumulates in mitochondria to promote neuronal injury, while selective FABP3/5 inhibitors provide neuroprotection 4. In cataracts, FABP3 promotes ferroptosis-dependent epithelial cell damage 5. Pharmacological FABP inhibition shows favorable safety profiles in adult tissues 7.