The Low-Expression Variant of FABP4 Is Associated With Cardiovascular Disease in Type 1 Diabetes

What is it about?

Pharmalogical inhibition or genetic deletion of the the adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein (FABP4) in preclinical studies protects against the harmful effects of obesity, such as atherosclerosis. As cardiovascular disease is common in individuals with type 1 diabetes, we examined the role of FABP4 for the development of complications in type 1 diabetes, focusing on a functional, low-expression, promoter polymorphism rs77878271 in the FABP4 gene. In contrast to the general population, the low-expression G-allele of rs77878271 increased CVD risk in type 1 diabetes, suggesting that genetically low FABP4 levels may be detrimental in the context of type 1 diabetes.

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