Description
Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), originally known as a specific transport of retinol in blood, is also a novel inflammatory and insulin resistance marker. Serum RBP4 levels are elevated in insulin-resistant mice and humans with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Animal experiments found that increased secretion of RBP4 might reduces insulin-dependent glucose uptake by muscle tissue by reducing the activity of PI(3)K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), and increased hepatic glucose output by increasing the expression of the enzyme PEPCK2. Studies suggested that elevated serum RBP4 was associated with components of the metabolic syndrome, including increased body-mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, serum triglyceride levels, and systolic blood pressure and decreased high- density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Studies both in human and animal suggested that serum levels of RBP4 plays a key role in the link between obesity,insulin resistant and diabetes. Animal experiments found that increased secretion ofRBP4 might reduces insulin-dependent glucose uptake by muscle tissue by reducingthe activity of PI(3)K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), and increased hepatic glucoseoutput by increasing the expression of the enzyme PEPCK. Furthermore, circulating RBP4 concentrations were associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease, which imply that RBP4 could be involved in the development of atherosclerosis. However, whether serumRBP4 could be a biomarker of type 2 diabetes risk still remain unclear.
Total 211 AA. Mw: 24.4 kDa (calculated). N-terminal His-tag and TEV cleavage site, 28 extra AA