Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41454478›Full record

ArticleClinical and translational medicine2026

FABP4-mediated lipid droplet accumulation drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition and aggravates alveolar epithelial barrier disruption.

Zihao Shen, Yuanpu Qi, Mingyu Chu, Minchao Wu, Chen Feng, Xiangyu Li, Zhaoyang Liu, Linjie Si, Yongliang Wang, Jialin Zhang and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and translational medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Lipidomic Remodeling by HILPDA in Granulosa Cells Impairs Ovarian Reserve Through Disruption of Mitochondrial and Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis.FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 2026
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Zihao ShenDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yuanpu QiDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Mingyu ChuDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Minchao WuDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Chen FengDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China.
Xiangyu LiDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Zhaoyang LiuDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Linjie SiDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yongliang WangDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China.
Jialin ZhangDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Xiaoning LuDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China.
Peng LuDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.ORCID 0000-0002-3263-7765

Funding

by National Natural Science Foundation of China 82202402Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province JX10214034the Jiangsu High-level Hospital Pairing Assistance Research Initiative JDBFSQ202509
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) frequently develops after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), with lung ischemia/reperfusion injury (LIRI) as a major contributing factor. However, the role of fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) in the pathogenesis of CPB-associated ARDS remains poorly understood.

methodsExperimental LIRI models were established in vivo and in vitro to investigate the role of FABP4 in alveolar epithelial injury. Lipid droplets (LDs) accumulation, fatty acid (FA) metabolism, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and alveolar epithelial barrier (AEB) integrity were assessed using molecular, cellular, and functional approaches. Pharmacological and genetic interventions were applied to evaluate the contribution of FABP4-mediated signaling pathways.

resultsLIRI induced autocrine FABP4 signaling in alveolar epithelial cells, leading to pronounced LDs accumulation and disruption of AEB integrity. FABP4 activation enhanced FA metabolism and promoted EMT, which played a critical role in epithelial barrier dysfunction. Mechanistically, FABP4 activated the p38 MAPK pathway, resulting in ULK1 phosphorylation, suppression of lipophagy, and subsequent LDs formation, thereby driving EMT. Inhibition of LDs accumulation effectively attenuated EMT and alleviated AEB disruption.

conclusionFABP4 serves as a key metabolic regulator linking lipid reprogramming to EMT and alveolar epithelial barrier disruption during LIRI. Targeting FABP4-mediated lipid metabolism may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing ARDS following CPB. KEY POINTS: LIRI induces autocrine FABP4 signaling in alveolar epithelial cells. FABP4 promotes lipid droplets accumulation by inhibiting lipophagy through p38 MAPKULK1 signaling. FABP4-driven lipid metabolic reprogramming triggers EMT and disrupts alveolar epithelial barrier integrity. Targeting FABP4 or lipid droplets accumulation may offer therapeutic potential for CPB-associated ARDS.

Indexed as

Epithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionFatty Acid-Binding ProteinsLipid DropletsAlveolar Epithelial CellsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalHumansMaleMiceRespiratory Distress SyndromeFABP4 protein, humanFabp4 protein, mouseFatty Acid-Binding Proteinsalveolar epithelial barrierepithelial–mesenchymal transitionFABP4lipid dropletslung ischemia/reperfusion injury

Identifiers

PMID41454478
PMCPMC12743144

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.