Requirement for the heart-type fatty acid binding protein in cardiac fatty acid utilization

• Published in: The FASEB journal Vol. 13; no. 8; p. 805
• Main Authors: Binas, B, Danneberg, H, McWhir, J, Mullins, L, Clark, A J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1999
• Subjects: 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid - blood; Animals; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Cardiomegaly - genetics; Cardiomegaly - metabolism; Cardiomegaly - pathology; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; Fatty Acids - blood; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids - pharmacokinetics; Female; Iodine Radioisotopes; Iodobenzenes - pharmacokinetics; Lactic Acid - blood; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Knockout; Myelin P2 Protein - genetics; Myelin P2 Protein - metabolism; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocardium - pathology; Neoplasm Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism
• ISSN: 0892-6638
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.13.8.805

Nonenzymatic cytosolic fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are abundantly expressed in many animal tissues with high rates of fatty acid metabolism. No physiological role has been demonstrated for any FABP, although these proteins have been implicated in transport of free long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and protection against LCFA toxicity. We report here that mice lacking heart-type FABP (H-FABP) exhibit a severe defect of peripheral (nonhepatic, non-fat) LCFA utilization. In these mice, the heart is unable to efficiently take up plasma LCFAs, which are normally its main fuel, and switches to glucose usage. Altered plasma levels of LCFAs, glucose, lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate are consistent with depressed peripheral LCFA utilization, intensified carbohydrate usage, and increased hepatic LCFA oxidation; these changes are most pronounced under conditions favoring LCFA oxidation. H-FABP deficiency is only incompletely compensated, however, causing acute exercise intolerance and, at old age, a localized cardiac hypertrophy. These data establish a requirement for H-FABP in cardiac intracellular lipid transport and fuel selection and a major role in metabolic homeostasis. This new animal model should be particularly useful for investigating the significance of peripheral LCFA utilization for heart function, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure.