Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42792895›Full record

ReviewGenes2026

Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins and Substance Use Disorders: From Lipid Signaling to Therapeutic Targets.

Aidan Powell, Noa Yamaguchi, Mariana Delgado, Kenneth Blum, Albert Pinhasov, Igor Elman, Panayotis K Thanos

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Genes, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Aidan PowellBehavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions (BNNLA), Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.ORCID 0009-0000-8849-9165
Noa YamaguchiBehavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions (BNNLA), Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.ORCID 0009-0003-0597-1308
Mariana DelgadoBehavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions (BNNLA), Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
Kenneth BlumDivision of Addiction Research and Education, Center for Sports, Exercise and Global Mental Health, Western University Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6727-803X
Albert PinhasovDepartment of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel 407000, Israel.ORCID 0000-0001-8116-4565
Igor ElmanDepartment of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel 407000, Israel.
Panayotis K ThanosBehavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions (BNNLA), Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.

Funding

Prenatal Tobacco and Cannabis Exposure: A Translational StudyR33DA045640 · NIDA · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO · PI EIDEN, RINA D, THANOS, PANAYOTIS K · 2021 to 2023
$999k
NIDA NIH HHS R33 DA045640NIH HHS 5R33DA045640-05Research Foundation for the State University of New York RIAQ0940
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are a family of intracellular lipid chaperones that transport fatty acids and other hydrophobic molecules, playing essential roles in cellular lipid metabolism, signaling, and brain function. Within the central nervous system, FABP3, FABP5, and FABP7 facilitate the trafficking of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and endocannabinoids, thereby modulating key regulatory pathways including the endocannabinoid system (ECS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, and dopaminergic neurotransmission. Peripherally, FABP1 and FABP4 contribute to hepatic drug metabolism, kidney excretion, and inflammatory processes in both tissues, with implications for the pharmacokinetics of substances of abuse. This narrative review synthesizes the current literature on FABPs and their involvement in substance use and addiction-related behaviors. Evidence from transgenic knockout models, pharmacological inhibition studies, and adeno-associated virus vector approaches demonstrates that manipulation of FABP subtypes can alter reward-related behaviors across multiple substances, including THC, ethanol, nicotine, and cocaine. Reduction or knockout of FABP7 alters THC metabolite levels in a sex-dependent manner. FABP3 shows involvement with dopamine receptor expression; however, interaction between FABP3 modulation and specific substances has sparsely been investigated. FABP5 has vastly diverging interactions with addictive behavior and appears to be substance dependent, as downregulation reduces cocaine self-administration, but knockout enhances nicotine conditioned place preference (CPP) and increases brain uptake of THC. Combined deletion of FABP5 and 7 additionally reduces cocaine CPP and reinstatement, while showing promising decreases in ethanol consumption paradigms. FABPs may be a potential therapeutic target for treating substance use disorders and underlying reward deficiency mechanisms underlying addiction and further research is required to elucidate specific mechanistic effects and eliminate potential adverse consequences of chronic FABP modulation.

Indexed as

Fatty Acid-Binding ProteinsLipid MetabolismSubstance-Related DisordersAnimalsEndocannabinoidsFatty Acid-Binding Protein 7HumansSignal TransductionEndocannabinoidsFABP5 protein, humanFatty Acid-Binding Protein 7Fatty Acid-Binding Proteinsaddictiondopamineendocannabinoid systemFABPsfatty acid-binding proteinsreward deficiency syndromesubstance use disorders

Identifiers

PMID42792895
PMCPMC13606250

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.