Editorial
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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Dec 15, 2010; 1(5): 147-153
Published online Dec 15, 2010. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i5.147
Fatty acid binding receptors in intestinal physiology and pathophysiology
Elke Kaemmerer, Patrick Plum, Christina Klaus, Ralf Weiskirchen, Christian Liedtke, Maximilian Adolf, Angela Schippers, Norbert Wagner, Andrea Reinartz, Nikolaus Gassler
Elke Kaemmerer, Angela Schippers, Norbert Wagner, Department of Pediatrics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
Patrick Plum, Christina Klaus, Maximilian Adolf, Andrea Reinartz, Nikolaus Gassler, Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
Ralf Weiskirchen, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
Christian Liedtke, Department of Medicine III, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
Author contributions: Kaemmerer E, Plum P, Klaus C, Weiskirchen R, Liedtke C, Adolf M, Schippers A, Wagner N, Reinartz A, and Gassler N contributed equally to this work and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG GA 785/5-1) and Deutsche Krebshilfe (DKH 109313)
Correspondence to: Nikolaus Gassler, MA, Professor of Pathology, Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. ngassler@ukaachen.de
Telephone: +49-241-8088897 Fax: +49-241-8082439
Received: July 29, 2010
Revised: November 26, 2010
Accepted: December 3, 2010
Published online: December 15, 2010
Abstract

Free fatty acids are essential dietary components and recognized as important molecules in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In the last decade, the molecular pathways for free fatty acid sensing in the gastrointestinal tract have been further elucidated by molecular identification and functional characterization of fatty acid binding receptors. These sensing molecules belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors. In the intestine, four important receptors have been described so far. They differ in molecular structure, ligand specificity, expression pattern, and functional properties. In this review, an overview of intestinal fatty acid binding receptors and their role in intestinal physiology and pathophysiology is given.

Keywords: G protein; Intestine; Free fatty acid; Receptor