Erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport activity is inversely correlated to adiponectin, retinol binding protein 4 and body height.
BACKGROUND
We have previously described that the sodium/lithium countertransport (SLC) in the erythrocyte cell membrane is closely linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Adiponectin and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4) are believed to affect obesity and insulin resistance. In the present study, we aimed to further characterize the relationship between SLC, inflammatory markers, adiponectin and RBP-4.


METHODS
We included 93 clinically healthy 58-year-old men selected to display variations in insulin sensitivity. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), TNF-alpha, soluble TNF-alpha-receptors (sTNFR) 1 and 2, IL-6 and RBP-4 were measured using antibody-based techniques. Adiponectin was determined by a radioimmunoassay kit. The lithium concentration in the special flux medium was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.


RESULTS
In univariate analyses, SLC correlated negatively with RBP-4 (r(s) = -0.256, p = -0.017) and to adiponectin (r(s) = -0.316, p = 0.003) and positively with TNF-alpha (r(s) = 0.346, p = 0.001) and hs-CRP (r(s) = 0.288, p = 0.005). There were no statistically significant correlations with sTNFR 1 or 2 or IL-6. SLC was negatively associated to body height (r(s) = -0.256, p = 0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
We are the first to report that SLC correlates negatively with adiponectin and RBP-4. This finding is intriguing, as adiponectin is anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic whereas RBP-4 supposedly decreases insulin sensitivity. We also observed a negative association between SLC activity and body height indicating that SLC activity is not primarily influenced by fat mass. The positive association of SLC with markers of inflammatory activity such as TNF-alpha and hs-CRP is in line with the proposed link between inflammation and insulin resistance.
Elias
Erik
E
Department of Gastrosurgical Research, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. erik.elias@gu.se
Wallenius
Ville
V
Herlitz
Hans
H
Bergström
Göran M L
GM
Olson
Fredrik J
FJ
Behre
Carl J
CJ
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D001692:Biological Transport; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
D052242:Adiponectin; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium