Abstract

Quantitative measurement of the liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) in human gastrointestinal tract was carried out by the single radial immunodiffusion method, and its tissue distribution was also determined. L-FABP existed only in the epithelial absorptive cells of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon, but not in esophagus and stomach. Jejunum showed the highest content of L-FABP at the level of 1.5% of the cytosolic protein. These findings support the concept that FABP has a role in the fatty acid absorption and transport. Intestinal L-FABP content revealed no difference between patients given ordinary diet and intravenous hyperalimentation, although earlier report by experimental animal showed that oral high fat loading increased the L-FABP concentration. L-FABP concentration had no correlation with the duration of IVH, but was well correlated with serum triglyceride and total-cholesterol levels. The colon of normal controls showed similar level of L-FABP concentration to that of distal intestine. L-FABP content in the colorectal cancer tissues and that in the specimen of the ulcerative colitis was also assayed, the former showed similar level to, and the latter showed significantly lower level than that in normal controls.