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Published on: January 28, 2013
Retinol Binding Protein 4 in children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a negative correlation with the disease
1First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Insights
Serum Retinol Binding Protein-4 (RBP-4) levels in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) did not differ from controls. However, RBP-4 showed a protective anti-inflammatory role, negatively correlating with disease activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Retinol Binding Protein-4 (RBP-4) is a key adipocytokine involved in inflammation, beyond its role in vitamin A transport.
- Understanding RBP-4's role in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is crucial for managing inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate serum RBP-4 levels in children diagnosed with IBD.
- To correlate RBP-4 levels with transthyretin (TTR), inflammation markers (SAA, CRP, ESR), disease activity, and BMI in pediatric IBD patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective analysis of serum RBP-4, TTR, SAA, CRP, ESR, disease activity, and BMI in 41 children with IBD (Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis).
- Comparison with 42 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- Correlation analysis to determine relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in serum RBP-4 or TTR levels were observed between pediatric IBD patients and controls, or between active and remission disease states.
- Serum RBP-4 negatively correlated with disease activity, serum amyloid A (SAA), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
- Inflammation markers (SAA, ESR, CRP) were elevated in IBD patients and positively correlated with disease activity.
Conclusions:
- Serum RBP-4 levels do not differ in children with IBD compared to controls.
- RBP-4 appears to possess a protective anti-inflammatory role in pediatric IBD, indicated by its negative correlation with disease activity and inflammation markers.
Objectives:
Retinol Binding Protein-4 (RBP-4), the action of which was initially thought to be only the transport of vitamin A, is a major circulating adipocytokine involved in the inflammation. We evaluated the serum RBP-4 levels in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and correlated them with transthyretin (TTR), inflammation markers, disease activity, and body mass index (BMI).
Design:
In 41 children of mean age 11.9 ± 3.6 years (range 5-17.7 y) with IBD (19 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 22 with Ulcerative colitis (UC) serum RBP-4, TTR, Amyloid A (SAA), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), disease activity and BMI were prospectively determined and compared with those of 42 matched controls.
Results:
No difference in the RBP-4 and TTR serum levels, between patients and controls as well as between active and remission state of the disease was noticed. A negative correlation of serum RBP-4 with the disease activity, SAA and ESR and a positive correlation with TTR was found, but no significant correlation with CRP or BMI was found. Inflammation markers were significantly increased in patients compared to controls and had a positive correlation with the disease activity.
Conclusions:
RBP-4 negatively correlated with disease activity of children with IBD probably indicating a protective anti-inflammatory mechanism of action in addition to transport of vitamin A.
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