Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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

Retinol-binding protein 4 and insulin resistance in preeclampsia

Hisashi Masuyama1, Seiji Inoue, Yuji Hiramatsu

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata, Okayama, Japan. masuyama@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp

Endocrine Journal
|December 22, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels and insulin resistance were higher in overweight women with late-onset preeclampsia. This suggests RBP4 may play a role in preeclampsia development in obese pregnant individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication causing high blood pressure and proteinuria, leading to significant maternal and neonatal risks.
  • Insulin resistance is increasingly recognized as a factor in preeclampsia development.
  • Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), an adipose-derived protein, is implicated in regulating insulin resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between RBP4 levels, insulin resistance, and preeclampsia.
  • To explore the potential role of RBP4 in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, particularly in relation to body mass.

Main Methods:

  • Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels and insulin resistance (Homeostasis Model Assessment - Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR]) were measured.
  • Patients with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women were compared, stratified by weight status (overweight vs. normal weight) and preeclampsia onset (early-onset vs. late-onset).
  • Participants were recruited from Okayama University Hospital.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in RBP4 levels were found between all preeclampsia patients and controls.
  • Overweight patients with late-onset preeclampsia exhibited significantly higher RBP4 levels and HOMA-IR compared to overweight controls and normal-weight women with late-onset preeclampsia.
  • No significant differences in RBP4 or HOMA-IR were observed between overweight and normal-weight groups in early-onset preeclampsia or in healthy pregnant women.

Conclusions:

  • RBP4 may contribute to the pathophysiology of late-onset preeclampsia, particularly in overweight or obese pregnant women.
  • Increased insulin resistance associated with RBP4 could be a key mechanism in this subgroup of preeclampsia.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of RBP4 in pregnancy complications.

More Related Videos

Methodology for Studying Interactions of Vitamin A Membrane Receptors and Opsin Protein with their Ligands in Generating the Retinylidene Protein08:18

Methodology for Studying Interactions of Vitamin A Membrane Receptors and Opsin Protein with their Ligands in Generating the Retinylidene Protein

Published on: October 4, 2024

Disruption of the Mouse Blood-Brain Barrier by Small Extracellular Vesicles from Hypoxic Human Placentas05:31

Disruption of the Mouse Blood-Brain Barrier by Small Extracellular Vesicles from Hypoxic Human Placentas

Published on: January 26, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a significant...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways01:28

Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways

Insulin action is mediated through a receptor tyrosine kinase, akin to the IGF-1 receptor. The number of receptors per cell varies significantly, from 40 on erythrocytes to 300,000 on adipocytes and hepatocytes. The insulin receptor consists of linked α/β subunit dimers, forming a heterotetramer glycoprotein with two extracellular α subunits and two β subunits spanning the membrane. The α subunits inhibit the inherent tyrosine kinase activity of the β subunits, but this inhibition is released...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.