title: RBP4: a controversial adipokine.
abstract: Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ secreting biologically active factors called adipokines that act on both local and distant tissues. Adipokines have an important role in the development of obesity-related comorbidities not only in adults but also in children and adolescents. Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a recently identified adipokine suggested to link obesity with its comorbidities, especially insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and certain components of the metabolic syndrome. However, data, especially resulting from the clinical studies, are conflicting. In this review, we summarize up-to-date knowledge on RBP4's role in obesity, development of insulin resistance, and T2D. Special attention is given to studies on children and adolescents. We also discuss the role of possible confounding factors that should be taken into account when critically evaluating published studies or planning new studies on this exciting adipokine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Primoz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kotnik
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fischer-Posovszky
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wabitsch
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma