Acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) (ACBP)

Acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP), also known as Diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI), is a 10-kDa protein that serves dual roles as an intracellular metabolic enzyme and an extracellular signaling molecule (UniProt P04141). Intracellularly, it facilitates the transport of long-chain fatty acid-CoA esters, while its extracellular form acts as an orexigenic (appetite-stimulating) hormone and an endozepine that modulates GABA-A receptors (Bravo-San Pedro et al., 2019). Elevated levels of circulating ACBP are linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome, where it promotes food intake and lipogenesis (Joseph et al., 2020). Research indicates that neutralizing extracellular ACBP with monoclonal antibodies can effectively reduce weight and improve metabolic parameters in preclinical models (Montégut et al., 2023). Consequently, ACBP is being investigated as a therapeutic target for metabolic disorders, though its involvement in central nervous system signaling presents challenges regarding potential behavioral side effects.

Other names

Diazepam-binding inhibitorDBIEndozepineEPAcyl-CoA-binding protein 1

Neutralization of extracellular ACBP to inhibit its orexigenic signaling and reduce systemic lipogenesis.