CD36 and aortic stenosis: Furthermore, cardiac biopsies of ventricular apex and atria of patients with AS showed the presence of a metabolic change from fatty acid oxidation to increased utilization of glucose by a reduction in fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) protein, which is the predominant fatty acid transporter in cardiac tissue; in addition, AS biopsies presented an increase in expression of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and 4.