RBP4, originally known as a specific transport of retinol in blood, is also a novel inflammatory and insulin resistance marker. Serum RBP4 levels are elevated in insulin-resistant mice and humans with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Animal experiments found that increased secretion of RBP4 might reduces insulin-dependent glucose uptake by muscle tissue by reducing the activity of PI(3)K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), and increased hepatic glucose output by increasing the expression of the enzyme PEPCK2. Studies suggested that elevated serum RBP4 was associated with components of the metabolic syndrome, including increased body-mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, serum triglyceride levels, and systolic blood pressure and decreased high- density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Furthermore, circulating RBP4 concentrations were associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease, which imply that RBP4 could be involved in the development of atherosclerosis.
Relevant publications:
1.The metabolic role of retinol binding protein 4: an update. Christou GA, Tselepis AD, Kiortsis DN. Horm Metab Res. 2012 44(1):6-14.
Toronto BioScience Inc. offers ELISA kits, Immunoturbidimetric assay, antibodies and recombinant protein for research on RBP4, which have been validated via use in “High Impact” publications. For more information and purchasing details see below.
