Research progress on the role of intestinal fatty acid binding proteins in diseases associated with intestinal mucosal barrier damage.

Intestinal tract is one of the largest organs in human body that is continuously exposed to the external environment, and it plays an important role as a physical and chemical barrier to protect the human body from pathogens. As an important part of the intestinal tract, the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier plays a key role in maintaining the intestinal microecological balance. The destruction of the intestinal mucosal barrier can lead to the imbalance and translocation of intestinal flora, which is related to the occurrence and development of various diseases. Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) is one of the fatty acid-binding protein family, which exhibits specificity towards intestinal injury and will be released into the blood circulation rapidly when intestinal injury, ischemia, intestinal mucosal barrier damage and permeability increase occur. The elevated level of I-FABP is an important marker of intestinal injury, and intestinal dysfunction is often associated with many clinical diseases. This article mainly reviews the structural characteristics and function of I-FABP and its relationship with intestinal mucosal barrier related diseases [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]