Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Real-time Analyses of Retinol Transport by the Membrane Receptor of Plasma Retinol Binding Protein
Published on: January 28, 2013
Retinol binding protein 4 is associated with adiposity-related co-morbidity risk factors in children
Rushika Conroy1, Yomery Espinal, Ilene Fennoy
1Division of Pediatrics Endocrinology, Children's Hospita of New York, Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. rushika.conroy@baystatehealth.org
Insights
Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels in adolescents correlate with obesity-related health risks like high triglycerides and low adiponectin. These associations suggest RBP4 is an independent marker for co-morbidity risk in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Elevated retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) in adults is linked to insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity.
- Understanding RBP4's role in pediatric adiposity-related co-morbidities is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between RBP4 and risk factors for adiposity-related co-morbidities in ethnically diverse children.
- To assess RBP4 as a potential marker for metabolic and inflammatory risks in early- to mid-adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammatory markers in 106 school children (ages 11-15).
- Assessment of insulin sensitivity and secretory capacity.
- Serum RBP4 levels were measured and correlated with various health indicators.
Main Results:
- Serum RBP4 showed significant positive correlations with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglycerides.
- RBP4 was inversely correlated with adiponectin, a marker of metabolic health.
- These correlations remained significant after adjusting for body fat, age, and gender, with ethnic variations noted.
Conclusions:
- Circulating RBP4 concentrations are associated with multiple risk factors for adiposity-related co-morbidities in adolescents.
- RBP4 may serve as an independent marker of adiposity-related co-morbidity risk in children, even when accounting for body fat percentage.
Objective:
In adults, elevated levels of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) have been associated with biochemical markers of adiposity-related co-morbidities including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity. This study examined the relationship between RBP4 and risk factors for co-morbidities of adiposity in a population of ethnically diverse children in early- to mid-adolescence in the public school system of New York City.
Materials/Methods:
We analyzed anthropometric (body mass index, % body fat, waist circumference), metabolic (lipids, glucose), and inflammatory (TNF-alpha, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, adiponectin) markers for adiposity-related co-morbidities and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in 106 school children (65 males, 41 females) 11-15 years of age (mean +/- SD = 13.0 +/- 0.1 years) who were enrolled in the Reduce Obesity and Diabetes (ROAD) project. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Insulin secretory capacity was measured as acute insulin response and glucose disposal index.
Results:
Serum RBP4 was significantly correlated directly with ALT, triglycerides, and triglyceride z-score, and inversely correlated with adiponectin. Correlations with ALT and adiponectin remained significant when corrected for % body fat, age, and gender. There were significant ethnic differences in the relationship of RBP4 to ALT, glucose disposal index and adiponectin.
Conclusions:
In early- to mid-adolescents, circulating concentrations of RBP4 are correlated with multiple risk factors for adiposity-related co-morbidities. The observation that many associations persisted when corrected for % body fat, suggests that RBP4 can be viewed as an independent marker of adiposity-related co-morbidity risk in children.
More Related Videos
08:18Methodology for Studying Interactions of Vitamin A Membrane Receptors and Opsin Protein with their Ligands in Generating the Retinylidene Protein
Published on: October 4, 2024
05:03Quantitative Analysis of Dietary Vitamin A Metabolites in Murine Ocular and Non-Ocular Tissues Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Published on: December 27, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:29Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Patient-Related Factors
Age stands as a key determinant in protein-drug binding. Neonates, characterized by low albumin content, experience heightened concentrations of unbound drugs such as phenytoin and...
01:24Obesity
01:20Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Protein-Related Factors
The physicochemical properties of a drug play a significant role in its ability to bind to proteins. Lipophilic drugs, which dissolve in fats, oils, and lipids, can be bound by...
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
01:18Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Drug-Related Factors
One crucial factor in drug-protein binding is the drug's lipophilicity or its affinity for fat. More lipophilic drugs tend to have higher binding extents. For example, highly lipophilic drugs like cloxacillin exhibit substantial protein binding, with as much as 95% of the drug binding to proteins. In contrast,...