Serum Retinol-Binding Protein Is More Highly Expressed in Visceral than in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue and Is a Marker of Intra-abdominal Fat Mass

Intra-abdominal fat is associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. Levels of serum retinol-binding protein (RBP4), secreted by fat and liver cells, are increased in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here we report that, in 196 subjects, RBP4 is preferentially expressed in visceral (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell metabolism 2007-07, Vol.6 (1), p.79-87
Main Authors: Klöting, Nora, Graham, Timothy E., Berndt, Janin, Kralisch, Susan, Kovacs, Peter, Wason, Christopher J., Fasshauer, Mathias, Schön, Michael R., Stumvoll, Michael, Blüher, Matthias, Kahn, Barbara B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipose Tissue - cytology
Adipose Tissue - metabolism
Adult
Biomarkers - metabolism
Body Mass Index
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism
Female
Humans
HUMDISEASE
Insulin Resistance
Intra-Abdominal Fat - metabolism
Intra-Abdominal Fat - pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity - blood
Prealbumin - metabolism
Retinol-Binding Proteins - genetics
Retinol-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma
RNA, Messenger - genetics
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Subcutaneous Fat - metabolism
Subcutaneous Fat - pathology
Thinness - blood
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Summary:Intra-abdominal fat is associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. Levels of serum retinol-binding protein (RBP4), secreted by fat and liver cells, are increased in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here we report that, in 196 subjects, RBP4 is preferentially expressed in visceral (Vis) versus subcutaneous (SC) fat. Vis fat RBP4 mRNA was increased ∼60-fold and 12-fold in Vis and SC obese subjects respectively versus lean subjects, and ∼2-fold with impaired glucose tolerance/T2D subjects versus normoglycemic subjects. In obese subjects, serum RBP4 was increased 2- to 3-fold, and serum transthyretin, which stabilizes RBP4 in the circulation, was increased 35%. Serum RBP4 correlated positively with adipose RBP4 mRNA and intra-abdominal fat mass and inversely with insulin sensitivity, independently of age, gender, and body mass index. RBP4 mRNA correlated inversely with GLUT4 mRNA in Vis fat and positively with adipocyte size in both depots. RBP4 levels are therefore linked to Vis adiposity, and Vis fat may be a major source of RBP4 in insulin-resistant states.
ISSN:1550-4131
1932-7420
DOI:10.1016/j.cmet.2007.06.002