This study identifies a FABP4-PD-L1 axis linking lipid metabolism to immune suppression in macrophages, showing FABP4 enables PD-L1 stabilization and correlates with obesity and breast cancer.

bioRxiv · Apr 13, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

Targeting Circulating FABP4 Ameliorates Obesity-Associated Hepatic Steatosis

Xingshan Jiang, Anthony M. Avellino, Jianyu Yu, Shanshan Liu, Zhaohua Wang, Xiaochun Han, Himani Thakkar, Jonathan S. Shilyansky, Zhen Xu, Nicholas Schnicker, Bhagirath Chaurasia, Jiaqing Hao, Sonia L. Sugg, Bing Li

This study identifies circulating FABP4 as a mediator of adipocyte-hepatocyte lipid crosstalk in obesity and shows that targeting it with a monoclonal antibody reduces hepatic steatosis in mouse models.

bioRxiv · Jan 26, 2026 · PreprintPathology

FABP5 in Skin Macrophages Mediates Saturated Fat-Induced IL-1β Signaling in Obesity-Associated Psoriasis Development

Jianyu Yu, Jiaqing Hao, Matthew S. Yorek, Xingshan Jiang, Anthony Avellino, Shanshan Liu, Xiaochun Han, Jonathan S. Shilyansky, Zhaohua Wang, Yuhang Wang, Zizhen Kang, Ali Jabbari, Bing Li

This study shows that saturated fats drive psoriasis via FABP5-mediated IL-1β/IL-17 signaling in skin macrophages, exacerbating obesity-associated psoriasis.

Cell Reports · Sep 1, 2025Peer-reviewedImmunology

Oncogene SETDB1s Dual Role in Endometrial Cancer: Driving Tumor Progression and Immune Escape

Kiarash Salari, Jiaqing Hao, Ryan Jilek, Matthew Wells, Tianyue Li, Eleanor Johnson, Wendy Meng, Ethan Zibble, Adam Allen, Jack A. Gilbert, Ryan Mclerran, Emma Schuett, Claudia R. Oliva, Corinne E. Griguer, David Kyle Meyerholz, , Shujie Yang

This study identifies SETDB1's dual role in endometrial cancer by promoting tumor growth and enabling immune evasion through gene regulation and macrophage suppression.

bioRxiv · Apr 23, 2025 · PreprintCancer Biology

Expression Profiles of FABP4 and FABP5 in Breast Cancer: Clinical Implications and Perspectives

Xingshan Jiang, Yiqin Xiong, Jianyu Yu, Anthony Avellino, Shanshan Liu, Xiaochun Han, Zhaohua Wang, Jonathan S. Shilyansky, Melissa A. Curry, Jiaqing Hao, Edward R. Sauter, Yi Huang, Sonia L. Sugg, Bing Li

This study examines FABP4 and FABP5 expression in breast cancer tissues, finding distinct roles in tumor progression and suggesting their potential as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Discover Oncology · Mar 19, 2025Peer-reviewedCancer Biology

FABP4-mediated lipid accumulation and lipolysis in tumor associated macrophages promote breast cancer metastasis

Matthew S. Yorek, Xingshan Jiang, Shanshan Liu, Jiaqing Hao, Jianyu Yu, Anthony Avellino, Zhanxu Liu, Melissa A. Curry, Henry L. Keen, Jianqiang Shao, Anand Kanagasabapathy, Maiying Kong, Yiqin Xiong, Edward R. Sauter, Sonia L. Sugg, Bing Li

This study shows that FABP4 in tumor-associated macrophages promotes breast cancer metastasis by mediating lipid accumulation and lipolysis in response to unsaturated fatty acids.

eLife · Oct 1, 2024Peer-reviewedImmunology

Development of a humanized anti-FABP4 monoclonal antibody for treatment of breast cancer

Jiaqing Hao, Rong Jin, Yanmei Yi, Xingshan Jiang, Jianyu Yu, Zhen Xu, Nicholas Schnicker, Michael S. Chimenti, Sonia L. Sugg, Bing Li

This paper develops humanized anti-FABP4 monoclonal antibodies that inhibit breast cancer tumor growth and metastasis by targeting FABP4's role in lipid metabolism.

Breast Cancer Research · Jul 25, 2024Peer-reviewedCancer Biology