Pathogenic role of acyl coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP) in Cushing’s syndrome

Abstract Cushing’s syndrome is caused by an elevation of endogenous or pharmacologically administered glucocorticoids. Acyl coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP, encoded by the gene diazepam binding inhibitor, Dbi ) stimulates food intake and lipo-anabolic reactions. Here we found that plasma ACBP/DBI concentrations were elevated in patients and mice with Cushing’s syndrome. We used several methods for ACBP/DBI inhibition in mice, namely, (1) induction of ACBP/DBI autoantibodies, (2) injection of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody, (3) body-wide or hepatocyte-specific knockout of the Dbi gene, (4) mutation of the ACBP/DBI receptor Gabrg2 and (5) injections of triiodothyronine or (6) the thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist resmetirom to block Dbi transcription. These six approaches abolished manifestations of Cushing’s syndrome such as increased food intake, weight gain, excessive adiposity, liver damage, hypertriglyceridaemia and type 2 diabetes. In conclusion, it appears that ACBP/DBI constitutes an actionable target that is causally involved in the development of Cushing’s syndrome.