Serum retinol-binding protein 4 correlates with obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in HIV-infected subjects receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy

Metabolism. 2009 Nov;58(11):1523-9. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2009.04.021. Epub 2009 Jun 18.

Abstract

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) contributes to the development of metabolic complications including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance (IR), and lipodystrophy (LD). Recent studies reported that retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is associated with IR, dyslipidemia, and obesity in non-HIV-infected populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between RBP4 and LD or metabolic abnormalities in HIV-infected subjects receiving HAART. We performed a cross-sectional study with 113 HIV-infected subjects receiving HAART for more than 6 months. Body composition and abdominal fat were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and ultrasonography, and fasting serum RBP4 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Retinol-binding protein 4 levels in subjects with LD were similar to those without LD (P = .839). Retinol-binding protein 4 had significantly positive correlations with waist circumference (r = 0.298, P = .002), waist-to-hip ratio (r = 0.336, P = .001), body mass index (r = 0.310, P = .002), total body fat mass (r = 0.323, P = .001), total cholesterol (r = 0.188, P = .048), log (triglyceride) (r = 0.269, P = .004), and log (homeostasis model assessment of IR) (r = 0.207, P = .036), and negative correlations with quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (r = -0.209, P = .034) after adjustment for age and sex. In stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis, waist-to-hip ratio was the most significant independent predictor of increased RBP4 (standardized beta = .351, P = .001). These results suggest that serum RBP4 is associated with obesity, IR, and dyslipidemia in HIV-infected subjects receiving HAART.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / diagnostic imaging
  • Adult
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Body Composition / drug effects
  • Body Composition / physiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dyslipidemias / blood*
  • Dyslipidemias / complications
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / blood
  • HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / complications
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology*
  • Lipids / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / blood*
  • Obesity / complications
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / metabolism*
  • Ultrasonography
  • Waist Circumference

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Lipids
  • RBP4 protein, human
  • RNA, Viral
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma