Platelet glycoprotein 4 (CD36)

Platelet glycoprotein 4, commonly known as CD36 or Fatty Acid Translocase (FAT), is a multifunctional class B scavenger receptor and integral membrane protein that plays a pivotal role in lipid metabolism and immune signaling (UniProt P16671; NIH). It facilitates the high-affinity uptake of long-chain fatty acids and serves as a receptor for diverse ligands, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), and apoptotic cells (Wikipedia; JCI). CD36 is widely expressed in tissues such as adipose, heart, skeletal muscle, and various immune cells, where it coordinates energy homeostasis and inflammatory responses (MDPI; NIH). In pathology, CD36 is a key driver of atherosclerosis through foam cell formation and is heavily implicated in the metabolic dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity (NIH; MDPI). Furthermore, CD36 has emerged as a critical target in oncology, where its role in promoting fatty acid uptake fuels cancer cell metastasis and immune evasion within the tumor microenvironment (PatSnap; NIH). Therapeutic development focuses on monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors to disrupt these pathological interactions, although the target's broad physiological roles necessitate careful management of systemic metabolic safety (PatSnap; NIH).

Other names

Fatty acid translocase (FAT)Scavenger receptor class B member 3 (SCARB3)Glycoprotein IV (GPIV)Glycoprotein IIIb (GPIIIb)PAS-4 proteinGP88

Inhibition of long-chain fatty acid uptake, blocking of oxidized LDL binding, modulation of thrombospondin-1 mediated anti-angiogenic signaling, and disruption of pro-inflammatory signaling complexes (e.g., TLR4/6 heterodimers).