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The Role of Elevated Liver-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins in Liver Diseases

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Abstract

Liver-type fatty acid–binding protein (L-FABP) is mainly expressed in the liver as well as the proximal tubular epithelial cells in the kidney. In general, the proteins and enzymes existing within the hepatocytes have the potential to become biomarkers, for instance alanine aminotransferase, which reflects hepatocellular damage. However, due to reduced hepatocellular function in late stage of chronic liver diseases (e.g. cirrhosis), proteins and enzymes relating to hepatocellular damage are not always accurate measures of disease progression. Recently, several publications have demonstrated elevated serum L-FABP levels during the progression of human liver diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and were a prognostic factor for survival in acute and chronic liver disease patients. However, the study regarding serum L-FABP levels and hepatic L-FABP expression in liver diseases is not sufficient to understand the molecular mechanism of L-FABP during the progression of these disease states. In this review, we focus on the use of serum and/or hepatic L-FABP expression as a biomarker in human liver diseases, including mechanistic potential in HCC.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ALBI:

Albumin-bilirubin

AUC:

Area under the curve

HBV:

Hepatitis B virus

HCV:

Hepatitis C virus

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

CH:

Chronic hepatitis

LC:

Liver cirrhosis

L-FABP:

Liver-type fatty acid–binding protein

HSC:

Hepatic stellate cell

KC:

Kupffer cell

AKI:

Acute kidney injury

LSEC:

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cell

CPS:

Child-Pugh scores

MELD:

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease

NASH:

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristic

BCLC:

Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

    Akiko Eguchi & Motoh Iwasa

  2. JST, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan

    Akiko Eguchi

Authors
  1. Akiko Eguchi
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  2. Motoh Iwasa
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Correspondence to Akiko Eguchi.

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Eguchi, A., Iwasa, M. The Role of Elevated Liver-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins in Liver Diseases. Pharm Res 38, 89–95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-021-02998-x

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