Institution: | aDepartment of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, PR China bRacing Division, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Shatin Racecourse, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, PR China cDepartments of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, The Netherlands dRacecourse Hoppegarten, Berlin, Germany eSports Science Department, Hong Kong Sports Development Board, Sports Institute, Yuen Wo Road, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, PR China f8sens.biognostic AG, Berlin-Buch, Germany gDepartment of Cardiology, Heart Center, Bernau, Germany hDepartment of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, PR China |
Abstract: | Fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) holds promise for early detection of tissue injury. This small protein (15 kD) appears earlier in the blood than large proteins after cell damage. Combined its characteristics of high concentration tissue contents and low normal plasma values provide the possibility of a rapid rise above the respective reference values, and thus an early indication of the appearance of tissue injury. A general review was presented on the current status of different types of FABP for the detection of tissue injury in patients with myocardial injury, brain injury and also in athletes or horses with skeletal muscle injury. To take full advantage of the characteristics of the early marker FABP, rapid analysis is a crucial parameter. In this review, an overview of the development of immunoassay for the quantification of FABP in buffer, plasma or whole blood was outlined. The characteristics of different FABP immunosensors and immunotests were described. The feasibility of these immunoassays to be used in routine clinical practice and in emergency case was also discussed. Nowadays, the improved automated immunoassays (e.g. a microparticle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay), less time-consuming bedside immunosensors and immunotests (e.g. a one-step FABP lateral flow immunotest), are the main advance technology in point-of-care testing. With these point-of-care tests, the application of FABP as an early tissue injury marker has a great potential for many clinical purposes. |