Serum retinol-binding protein-4, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations are related to ectopic fat accumulation.
BACKGROUND
Serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4), leptin, and adiponectin concentrations identify insulin resistance in varied conditions, but their relationships with insulin sensitivity and ectopic fat accumulation are unclear.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to establish how these adipokines are related with intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) and intrahepatic lipid (IHL) content.


METHODS
We assessed retrospectively serum fasting RBP-4 concentrations in 1) 53 nondiabetic individuals in which insulin sensitivity and IMCL content were assessed by means of the insulin clamp and of 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the calf muscles, and 2) 140 nondiabetic individuals in which insulin sensitivity and the IHL content were assessed by means of the updated homeostasis model assessment and of 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In both experiments, serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured.


RESULTS
Fasting serum RBP-4, adiponectin, and leptin were associated with peripheral insulin sensitivity, were abnormal in the first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic parents, and correlated with the soleus IMCL content and with the IHL content. The association of RBP-4 and adiponectin with insulin sensitivity was age, sex, and body mass index independent, but stepwise regression analysis suggested that RBP-4, but not adiponectin and leptin, was independently associated with insulin sensitivity. Adiponectin was independently associated with the IHL content, RBP-4, and leptin with the soleus IMCL content.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum RBP-4 was a robust marker of insulin resistance. Serum RBP-4, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations reflected ectopic fat accumulation in humans.
Perseghin
Gianluca
G
Internal Medicine-Section of Nutrition/Metabolism, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy. perseghin.gianluca@hsr.it
Lattuada
Guido
G
De Cobelli
Francesco
F
Esposito
Antonio
A
Belloni
Elena
E
Canu
Tamara
T
Ragogna
Francesca
F
Scifo
Paola
P
Del Maschio
Alessandro
A
Luzi
Livio
L
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D002828:Choristoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D052242:Adiponectin; D020738:Leptin; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma