Fatty acid-binding protein 6 (FABP6) (FABP6)

Fatty acid-binding protein 6 (FABP6), also known as ileal bile acid-binding protein (IBABP), is a 14-15 kDa cytoplasmic protein primarily expressed in the enterocytes of the distal ileum (UniProt P51161). It serves as a critical component of the enterohepatic circulation by facilitating the intracellular transport of bile acids from the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) to the basolateral organic solute transporters (OSTα/β) (PubMed: 15936983). Beyond its transport function, FABP6 acts as a signaling modulator by delivering bile acid ligands to the nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which regulates the expression of genes involved in bile acid and lipid homeostasis (PubMed: 17909007). Dysregulation of FABP6 is implicated in various diseases; it is significantly upregulated in early-stage colorectal cancer and associated with metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (PubMed: 15489334, 17909007). While no specific drugs targeting FABP6 are currently FDA-approved, it is an active target in drug discovery for metabolic and oncological indications (J. Med. Chem. 2016). Experimental strategies include the use of pan-FABP inhibitors like BMS309403 and novel fragment-based compounds to inhibit tumor cell invasion and metabolic dysregulation (ASH Publications 2024).

Other names

Ileal bile acid-binding proteinGastrotropinIleal lipid-binding proteinILBPI-BABPI-15PILLBPIntestinal 15 kDa protein

Inhibition of intracellular bile acid transport and modulation of FXR-mediated gene expression to disrupt metabolic signaling or tumor progression.