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Real-time Analyses of Retinol Transport by the Membrane Receptor of Plasma Retinol Binding Protein
14:32

Real-time Analyses of Retinol Transport by the Membrane Receptor of Plasma Retinol Binding Protein

Published on: January 28, 2013

Increased plasma retinol binding protein 4 levels in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy

Peter Bobbert1, Alice Weithäuser, Janin Andres

  • 1Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. peter.bobbert@charite.de

European Journal of Heart Failure
|November 21, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP 4) is elevated in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy, contributing to insulin resistance and diabetes risk. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) may induce RBP 4, suggesting a mechanism for increased diabetes incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology and Endocrinology
  • Molecular mechanisms of metabolic disease

Background:

  • Chronic heart failure (CHF) increases diabetes mellitus risk.
  • Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP 4) is an adipose-derived protein with pro-diabetogenic effects.
  • The link between CHF and insulin resistance requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between chronic heart failure and diabetes mellitus.
  • To examine the role of RBP 4 in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and inflammatory DCM (DCMi).

Main Methods:

  • Plasma levels of RBP 4, insulin, and interleukins (IL-2, IL-8, IL-10) were measured in DCM, DCMi, and control groups.
  • Insulin resistance was assessed in study participants.
  • In vitro studies using 3T3-L1 adipocytes investigated RBP 4 mRNA expression following IL-8 stimulation.

Main Results:

  • RBP 4 levels were significantly higher in DCMi patients compared to DCM and control groups.
  • RBP 4 positively correlated with IL-8 in DCMi patients.
  • DCMi patients exhibited increased insulin resistance; IL-8 upregulated RBP 4 mRNA expression in adipocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated plasma RBP 4 concentrations, potentially induced by IL-8, may contribute to the higher incidence of diabetes in DCMi.
  • This study suggests a molecular mechanism linking inflammatory cardiomyopathy to diabetes development.
Abstract

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