HEART FATTY-ACID-BINDING PROTEIN IS A NOVEL REGULATOR OF CARDIAC MYOCYTE HYPERTROPHY

Heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a 15kDa protein that medi ates the passage of fatty acids from the plasma membrane to sites of l ipid synthesis. We report here, for the first time, that H-FABP is a p otent inducer of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, stimulating an increase in cell surface area, protein synthesis and c-jun expression. A high a ffinity receptor for H-FABP has also been identified. Taken together, these data suggest that H-FABP may participate in the regulation of ca rdiac myocyte growth and differentiation. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc .