Uncovering the potential of Fatty Acid Binding Proteins for predicting radiation-induced gastrointestinal injury

Abstract

Gastrointestine (GI) depression is a severe complication identified in individuals after intentional or unintentional radiation exposure. Early detection of radiation-induced GI injury (RIGI) is important for medical management with supportive care, which can largely be achieved using organ specific biomarkers. Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (FABPs) are 14-15 kDa cytosolic proteins which are quickly released into circulation in the event of tissue injuries. The present investigation aims to unravel the potential of FABPs as candidate targets to predict RIGI. Utilizing data mining approach, FABP genes differentially expressed in 06 microarray datasets retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database across distinct species were identified. The abundance of 10 genes encoding FABPs were checked in intestinal tissue of male and female C57Bl/6 mice by qRT-PCR analysis. FABP1 and FABP2 were identified as the abundant genes expressed in small intestine of both the sexes. In order to explore FABP1 and FABP2 as possible targets for radioprotection, we selected approved hydrophilic and lipophilic statins to perform molecular docking studies. The findings highlighted that FABP1 and FABP2, expressed in intestine, can act as potential biomarkers for RIGI as well as their drug targets can be explored as promising radiation countermeasure agents.