Fatty acid–binding proteins (FABPs) are lipid chaperones assisting in the trafficking of long-chain fatty acids with functions in various cell compartments, including oxidation, signaling, gene-transcription regulation, and storage. The various known FABP isoforms display distinctive tissue distribution, but some are active in more than one tissue. Quantitative and/or qualitative changes of FABPs are associated with pathological conditions. Increased circulating levels of FABPs are biomarkers of disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Deregulated expression and malfunction of FABPs can result from genetic alterations or posttranslational modifications and can be pathogenic. We have assembled the disorders with abnormal FABPs as chaperonopathies in a distinct nosological entity. This entity is similar but separate from that encompassing the chaperonopathies pertaining to protein chaperones. In this review, we discuss the role of FABPs in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, cancer, and neurological diseases. We highlight the opportunities for improving diagnosis and treatment that open by encompassing all these pathological conditions within of a coherent nosological group, focusing on abnormal lipid chaperones as biomarkers of disease and etiological-pathogenic factors.

脂肪酸结合蛋白 (FABP) 是脂质伴侣，有助于长链脂肪酸的运输，在各种细胞区室中具有功能，包括氧化、信号传导、基因转录调节和储存。各种已知的 FABP 亚型表现出独特的组织分布，但有些在不止一种组织中具有活性。 FABP 的定量和/或定性变化与病理状况相关。 FABP 循环水平升高是肥胖、胰岛素抵抗、心血管疾病和癌症等疾病的生物标志物。 FABP 的表达失调和功能障碍可能是由基因改变或翻译后修饰引起的，并且可能是致病的。我们将 FABP 异常的疾病作为伴侣病组装到一个独特的疾病分类实体中。该实体与蛋白质伴侣相关的伴侣病相似，但又不同。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了 FABP 在代谢综合征、癌症和神经系统疾病发病机制中的作用。我们强调通过将所有这些病理状况纳入一个连贯的疾病学组中来改善诊断和治疗的机会，重点关注异常脂质伴侣作为疾病和病因病理因素的生物标志物。