Cited by 2,086Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesAdipose Tissue and MetabolismPeroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors

Serum retinol binding protein 4 contributes to insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes

Yang, Qin, Graham, Timothy E., Mody, Nimesh, Preitner, Frederic, Peroni, Odile D., Zabolotny, Janice M., Kotani, Ko, Quadro, Loredana +1 more·2005·Nature

Abstract

In obesity and type 2 diabetes, expression of the GLUT4 glucose transporter is decreased selectively in adipocytes. Adipose-specific Glut4 (also known as Slc2a4) knockout (adipose-Glut4(-/-)) mice show insulin resistance secondarily in muscle and liver. Here we show, using DNA arrays, that expression of retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4) is elevated in adipose tissue of adipose-Glut4(-/-) mice. We show that serum RBP4 levels are elevated in insulin-resistant mice and humans with obesity and type 2 diabetes. RBP4 levels are normalized by rosiglitazone, an insulin-sensitizing drug. Transgenic overexpression of human RBP4 or injection of recombinant RBP4 in normal mice causes insulin resistance. Conversely, genetic deletion of Rbp4 enhances insulin sensitivity. Fenretinide, a synthetic retinoid that increases urinary excretion of RBP4, normalizes serum RBP4 levels and improves insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in mice with obesity induced by a high-fat diet. Increasing serum RBP4 induces hepatic expression of the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and impairs insulin signalling in muscle. Thus, RBP4 is an adipocyte-derived 'signal' that may contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Lowering RBP4 could be a new strategy for treating type 2 diabetes.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature03711

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  • The secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as RBP4, contributes to the onset of the physiological alterations accompanying obesity.

    “The secretion of these proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as the secretion of other adipokines like retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) 141, 142, is now well admitted to contribute to the onset of the physiological alterations accompanying obesity 12.”

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Authors
Yang, Q., Graham, T. E., Mody, N., Preitner, F., Peroni, O. D., Zabolotny, J. M., Kotani, K., Quadro, L., & Kahn, B. B.
Affiliations
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
  • Columbia University (US)
Corresponding author
Kahn, Barbara B.
Venue
Nature
Published
2005-07
Volume
436
Issue
7049
Pages
356-362
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2092136583
Cited by
2,086
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 43 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 86 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 76 · 2017: 91 · 2016: 88 · 2015: 120 · 2014: 115 · 2013: 124 · 2012: 135
FWCI
89.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK043051)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
Keywords
retinol-binding protein 4, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, GLUT4, adipose tissue, rosiglitazone, fenretinide, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, hepatic gluconeogenesis, impaired glucose tolerance
MeSH terms
Rosiglitazone, Adipose Tissue, Animals, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Disease Models, Animal, Gene Expression Regulation, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Liver, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins, Muscle Proteins, Muscles, Obesity, Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP), Retinol-Binding Proteins, Signal Transduction, Mice, Knockout, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Hepatocytes, Thiazolidinediones, Glucose Transporter Type 4, Mice, Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma

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