Insulin resistance is unrelated to circulating retinol binding protein and protein C inhibitor.
BACKGROUND
Recent data suggest that circulating retinol-binding protein (RBP) might be involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Moreover, protein C inhibitor (PCI), which specifically binds retinoic acid, was found to be increased in myocardial infarction survivors who are also insulin resistant.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the association of insulin resistance with RBP factors and PCI active antigen.


METHODS
This was a clinical study.


METHODS
Nondiabetic humans with high (IS; n = 20, 14 females, six males, aged 47.2 +/- 1.9 yr, body mass index 26 +/- 1 kg/m(2)) and low (IR; n = 20, 14 females, six males, aged 45.5 +/- 1.7 yr, body mass index 28 +/- 1 kg/m(2)) insulin-stimulated glucose-disposal (M) participated in this study.


METHODS
M was measured by 2-h hyperinsulinemic (40 mU.min(-1).m(-2))-isoglycemic clamp tests. Measurements of RBP were performed using a nephelometric method and validated using quantitative Western blotting.


RESULTS
M (80-120 min) was higher in IS (10.9 +/- 0.6 mg.min(-1).kg(-1)) than IR (4.0 +/- 0.2; P < 10(-12)). Fasting plasma RBP concentrations were comparable between IS and IR measured by both nephelometry (IS: 4.4 +/- 0.3; IR: 4.6 +/- 0.3 mg/dl, P = 0.6) and quantitative Western blot (IS 7.9 +/- 0.5, IR 8.3 +/- 0.6 mg/dl; P = 0.6). Fasting plasma PCI active antigen was similar in both groups. Plasma RBP and PCI were not significantly related to M. RBP was positively correlated with uric acid (r = 0.488, P = 0.003), triglycerides (r = 0.592, P < 0.001), prealbumin (r = 0.63, P < 0.0001), and vitamin A (r = 0.75, P < 10(-6)).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that healthy, insulin-resistant humans do not show altered plasma retinol binding factors, such as RBP and PCI. Both do not significantly correlate with insulin sensitivity. Thus, our findings do not support the hypothesis of insulin sensitivity modulation by proteins involved in retinol transport.
Promintzer
Miriam
M
Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Krebs
Michael
M
Todoric
Jelena
J
Luger
Anton
A
Bischof
Martin Georg
MG
Nowotny
Peter
P
Wagner
Oswald
O
Esterbauer
Harald
H
Anderwald
Christian
C
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018046:Protein C Inhibitor / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D018046:Protein C Inhibitor; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D014801:Vitamin A