血清视黄醇结合蛋白和维生素A营养状况的评价

维生素A在体内通过视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)的携带、由肝脏分泌进入血液,为机体所利用。血清视黄醇和RBP的含量呈显著的平行关系,因此有人建议测定血清RBP的含量来评价维生素A的营养状况。本文概述了RBP的一般性质、影响血清RBP水平的各种因素,分析了用放射免疫法测定血清RBP含量评价维生素A营养状况的可能性,认为将放射免疫分析法引进营养学的研究,不但可以提高检查方法的灵敏度、使其更微量化、有益于早期诊断,而且可以为我们提供一个有效的实验研究手段。     

视黄醇结合蛋白RBP4可与多种核受体相互作用

视黄醇结合蛋白 (retinolbindingprotein ,RBP4 )是体内一种重要的转运蛋白 ,主要负责结合、转运全反式视黄醇 (维生素A ,VitA ) .VitA及其衍生物如11 cis 视黄醛、all trans 视黄酸等 ,均是体内非常重要的疏水分子 ,与视觉循环、胚胎发育等多种过程有关 .RBP4的功能障碍会导致     

视黄醇结合蛋白的分子生物学

视黄醇结合蛋白 (RBP)是维生素A(VitA)的运载蛋白 ,结构上为疏水小分子结合蛋白家族的成员。视黄醇结合蛋白在肝脏中合成并释放入血液后 ,通过与视黄醇 (ROH)、甲状腺素运载蛋白 (TTR)及细胞表面受体相互作用 ,在VitA的储存、代谢、转运到周围靶器官中发挥重要功能。本文从基因结构与表达、构效关系及临床意义等方面介绍了视黄醇结合蛋白的分子生物学。     

视黄醇类结合蛋白的分类、结构及功能

视黄醇类结合蛋白(retinoids binding protein)是体内负责结合并转运维生素A的各种活性代谢物(视黄醇类)的一类蛋白质,主要包括血浆视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)、胞内视黄醇结合蛋白(CRBP)、胞内视黄酸结合蛋白(CRABP)、胞内视黄醛结合蛋白(CRALBP)和光受体视黄醇类结合蛋白(IRBP)五大类。它们空间结构高度保守,分布广泛,功能多样,与多种疾病的发生发展关系密切。     

人视黄醇结合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的高效表达及其活性测定

视黄醇结合蛋白 (retinol- binding protein,RBP)是体内结合、转运维生素 A的重要载体蛋白 ,对生长、繁殖、视觉及维持上皮细胞分化状态至关重要 ,不但是临床营养支持蛋白质营养评价的最灵敏指标 ,而且可作为慢性肾病、严重肝病、甲亢等相关疾病的辅助诊断指标 .同时 ,RBP可作为疏水小分子结合蛋白家族构效关系研究的模型 ,具有重要的理论与应用研究价值 .我们已克隆出了它的 c D-NA[1 ] ,本文报道了人 RBP在大肠杆菌中的高效表达及其产物的初步纯化和活性测定 .1　材料与方法1 .1　材料含目的片段的克隆质粒 p GEM- RBP为本室构建 …     

视黄醇结合蛋白4与2型糖尿病微血管病变的研究进展

视黄醇结合蛋白4（Retinolbindingprotein4,RBP4）是一种分泌型视黄醇结合蛋白,主要由肝脏合成,在协助视黄醇发挥生理功能中起着重要的作用。近年研究发现,RBP4是一种新的循环性脂肪因子,亦能由脂肪组织特异性分泌,它不仅能够抑制肌肉组织中的胰岛素信号通路,而且能够促进糖异生,增加肝糖输出,从而导致胰岛素抵抗的发生,增加糖尿病的发病风险。目前RBP4与2型糖尿病（Type2diabetes mellitus,T2DM）关系逐渐受到人们的重视,本文就RBP4的生理功能、RBP4与T2DM微血管病变的研究进展作一综述。     

视黄醇结合蛋白4与2型糖尿病微血管病变的研究进展

视黄醇结合蛋白4(Retinolbindingprotein4,RBP4)是一种分泌型视黄醇结合蛋白,主要由肝脏合成,在协助视黄醇发挥生理功能中起着重要的作用。近年研究发现,RBP4是一种新的循环性脂肪因子,亦能由脂肪组织特异性分泌,它不仅能够抑制肌肉组织中的胰岛素信号通路,而且能够促进糖异生,增加肝糖输出,从而导致胰岛素抵抗的发生,增加糖尿病的发病风险。目前RBP4与2型糖尿病(Type2diabetes mellitus,T2DM)关系逐渐受到人们的重视,本文就RBP4的生理功能、RBP4与T2DM微血管病变的研究进展作一综述。     

视黄醇的运转和组织摄取

肝脏贮存的维生素A分泌进入血液受很多因素的影响。血液中的视黄醇与视黄醇结合蛋白、前白蛋白以复合形式运转具有重要的生物学作用;近几年的研究表明周围靶细胞膜上有一种特殊的受体可特异地摄取视黄醇。维生素A供应过多时造成细胞的非特异摄取,引起生物膜的损伤,这可能是中毒的重要原因之一。肝脏维生素A的分泌、运转和组织摄取全过程可能有一个完整的调控体系,但它的各个环节和作用机理还有待进一步的研究。     

大鼠维生素A和铁的相互作用关系对缺铁性贫血的影响

目的：通过研究维生素A缺乏和铁缺乏的相互作用来探讨缺铁性贫血的发生机制。方法：第一阶段，将44只SD大鼠随机分为4组，分别为Fe＋维生素A+Ⅰ组、Fe-维生素A+Ⅱ组、Fe-维生素A+Ⅲ组、Fe-维生素A-Ⅳ组；实验动物喂养2个月后处死，测定视黄醇（血清）、血红蛋白（HB）、维生素A、视黄基酯（肝脏），并采用RT-PCR法测定视黄醇结合蛋白mRNA（RBP mRNA）的表达。第二阶段，将SD大鼠按称重结果随机分4组，分别为Fe＋维生素A+Ⅴ组，Fe+维生素A-Ⅵ组，Fe+维生素A-Ⅶ组，Fe-维生素A-Ⅷ组。大鼠喂饲2个月后处死留取肝脏，用半定量PCR的方法测量铁调节蛋白2（IRP2）、铁蛋白（Fn）、转铁蛋白受体（TFR）转录mRNA的表达量。结果：第一阶段制造铁缺乏动物模型，造模后大鼠的血清视黄醇，肝脏维生素A储备量开始降低，同时RBP储备含量也有下降走势，经测肝脏RBP表达量下降明显；第二阶段实验原代肝细胞缺乏维生素A时，肝脏IRP2 mRNA、TFR mRNA表达同时增强，而Fn mRNA却表达下降，差异均具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论：维生索A和铁相互缺乏时，可相互影响彼此的代谢和营养状况，在得到补充后，相互造成的很多利用障碍的影响（如贫血）都显著减轻。     

胶体金免疫层析法视黄醇结合蛋白检测试剂对肾小管功能损伤的诊断价值评价

目的:对胶体金免疫层析法的视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)检测试剂诊断肾小管损伤的价值进行评价。方法:选择上海柏纳生物技术有限公司生产的视黄醇结合蛋白检测试剂盒(胶体金免疫层析法)与上海太阳生物技术有限公司生产的RBP含量测定试剂盒(酶联免疫法)进行对比试验,分别对临床选取的病例组和对照组的尿液样本进行检测。参考临床单位诊断标准,酶联免疫法结果浓度≥300ng/mL为阳性,<300ng/mL为阴性;胶体金免疫层析法检测结果检测线显色为阳性,不显色为阴性。对两组检验结果进行Kappa一致性检验,分析两种检测方法诊断结果的一致性,同时以临床通用诊断方法为参考,计算胶体金免疫层析法诊断肾小管功能损伤的灵敏度和特异度。结果:两种检测方法的诊断结果一致性良好(市一医院:K=0.9070,95%CI:0.8277～0.9863,P<0.01;市六医院:K=0.9391,95%CI:0.8714～1.000,P<0.01)。胶体金方法诊断肾小管损伤的灵敏度和特异度,市一医院:灵敏度=100%,精确95%CI为:92.45%～100.00%;特异度=91.80%,精确95%CI为:81.90%～97.28%;市六医院:灵敏度=100%,精确95%CI为:91.40%～100.00%;特异度=95.00%,精确95%CI为:86.08%～98.96%。结论:胶体金免疫层析法的视黄醇结合蛋白检测试剂与已批准上市的试剂等效,对肾小管功能损伤的诊断具有重大应用价值。     

Real-time Analyses of Retinol Transport by the Membrane Receptor of Plasma Retinol Binding Protein

Vitamin A is essential for vision and the growth/differentiation of almost all human organs. Plasma retinol binding protein (RBP) is the principle and specific carrier of vitamin A in the blood. Here we describe an optimized technique to produce and purify holo-RBP and two real-time monitoring techniques to study the transport of vitamin A by the high-affinity RBP receptor STRA6. The first technique makes it possible to produce a large quantity of high quality holo-RBP (100%-loaded with retinol) for vitamin A transport assays. High quality RBP is essential for functional assays because misfolded RBP releases vitamin A readily and bacterial contamination in RBP preparation can cause artifacts. Real-time monitoring techniques like electrophysiology have made critical contributions to the studies of membrane transport. The RBP receptor-mediated retinol transport has not been analyzed in real time until recently. The second technique described here is the real-time analysis of STRA6-catalyzed retinol release or loading. The third technique is real-time analysis of STRA6-catalyzed retinol transport from holo-RBP to cellular retinol binding protein I (CRBP-I). These techniques provide high sensitivity and resolution in revealing RBP receptor''s vitamin A uptake mechanism.     

Differential and Isomer-Specific Modulation of Vitamin A Transport and the Catalytic Activities of the RBP Receptor by Retinoids

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives with diverse biological functions. Both natural and artificial retinoids have been used as therapeutic reagents to treat human diseases, but not all retinoid actions are understood mechanistically. Plasma retinol binding protein (RBP) is the principal and specific carrier of vitamin A in the blood. STRA6 is the membrane receptor for RBP that mediates cellular vitamin A uptake. The effects of retinoids or related compounds on the receptor’s vitamin A uptake activity and its catalytic activities are not well understood. In this study, we dissected the membrane receptor-mediated vitamin A uptake mechanism using various retinoids. We show that a subset of retinoids strongly stimulates STRA6-mediated vitamin A release from holo-RBP. STRA6 also catalyzes the exchange of retinol in RBP with certain retinoids. The effect of retinoids on STRA6 is highly isomer-specific. This study provides unique insights into the RBP receptor’s mechanism and reveals that the vitamin A transport machinery can be a target of retinoid-based drugs.     

Cross talk between signaling and vitamin A transport by the retinol-binding protein receptor STRA6

The plasma membrane protein STRA6 transports vitamin A from its blood carrier retinol binding protein (RBP) into cells, and it also functions as a cytokine receptor which activates JAK/STAT signaling. We show here that, unlike other cytokine receptors, phosphorylation of STRA6 is not simply induced upon binding of its extracellular ligand. Instead, activation of the receptor is triggered by STRA6-mediated translocation of retinol from serum RBP to an intracellular acceptor, the retinol-binding protein CRBP-I. The observations also demonstrate that the movement of retinol from RBP to CRBP-I, and thus activation of STRA6, is critically linked to the intracellular metabolism of the vitamin. Furthermore, the data show that STRA6 phosphorylation is required for retinol uptake to proceed. Hence, the observations demonstrate that STRA6 orchestrates a multicomponent "machinery" that couples vitamin A homeostasis and metabolism to activation of a signaling cascade and that, in turn, STRA6 signaling regulates the cellular uptake of the vitamin. STRA6 appears to be a founding member of a new class of proteins that may be termed "cytokine signaling transporters."     

Application of an allosteric model to describe the interactions among retinol binding protein 4, transthyretin, and small molecule retinol binding protein 4 ligands

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a serum protein that serves as the major transport protein for retinol (vitamin A). Recent reports suggest that elevated levels of RBP4 are associated with insulin resistance and that insulin sensitivity may be improved by reducing serum RBP4 levels. This can be accomplished by administration of small molecules, such as fenretinide, that compete with retinol for binding to RBP4 and disrupt the protein-protein interaction between RBP4 and transthyretin (TTR), another serum protein that protects RBP4 from renal clearance. We developed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay that measures the interaction between RBP4 and TTR and can be used to determine the binding affinities of RBP4 ligands. We present an allosteric model that describes the pharmacology of interaction among RBP4, TTR, retinol, and fenretinide, and we show data that support the model. We show that retinol increases the affinity of RBP4 for TTR by a factor of 4 and determine the affinity constants of fenretinide and retinyl acetate. The assay may be useful for characterizing small molecule ligands that bind to RBP4 and disrupt its interaction with TTR. In addition, such a model could be used to describe other protein-protein interactions that are modulated by small molecules.     

Vitamin A transport: in vitro models for the study of RBP secretion

Retinol-binding protein (RBP) is the specific plasma carrier of retinol, encharged of the vitamin transport from the liver to target cells. Ligand binding influences the RBP affinity for transthyretin (TTR), a homotetrameric protein involved in the RBP/TTR circulating complex, and the secretion rate of RBP. In fact, in vitamin A deficiency, the RBP release from the hepatocytes dramatically decreases and the protein accumulates in the cells, until retinol is available again. The mechanism is still not clear and new cellular models are needed to understand in detail how the soluble RBP can be retained inside the cell. In fish, a vitamin A transport system similar to that of higher vertebrates is emerging, although with significant differences.     

Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Induces Inflammation in Human Endothelial Cells by an NADPH Oxidase- and Nuclear Factor Kappa B-Dependent and Retinol-Independent Mechanism

Serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is the sole specific vitamin A (retinol) transporter in blood. Elevation of serum RBP4 in patients has been linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetic retinopathy. However, the significance of RBP4 elevation in the pathogenesis of these vascular diseases is unknown. Here we show that RBP4 induces inflammation in primary human retinal capillary endothelial cells (HRCEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by stimulating expression of proinflammatory molecules involved in leukocyte recruitment and adherence to endothelium, including vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We demonstrate that these novel effects of RBP4 are independent of retinol and the RBP4 membrane receptor STRA6 and occur in part via activation of NADPH oxidase and NF-κB. Importantly, retinol-free RBP4 (apo-RBP4) was as potent as retinol-bound RBP4 (holo-RBP4) in inducing proinflammatory molecules in both HRCEC and HUVEC. These studies reveal that RBP4 elevation can directly contribute to endothelial inflammation and therefore may play a causative role in the development or progression of vascular inflammation during cardiovascular disease and microvascular complications of diabetes.     

Human plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP4) is also a fatty acid-binding protein

RBP4 (plasma retinol-binding protein) is the 21?kDa transporter of all-trans retinol that circulates in plasma as a moderately tight 1:1 molar complex of the vitamin with the protein. RBP4 is primarily synthesized in the liver but is also produced by adipose tissue and circulates bound to a larger protein, transthyretin, TTR, that serves to increase its molecular mass and thus avoid its elimination by glomerular filtration.This paper reports the high resolution three-dimensional structures of human RBP4 naturally lacking bound retinol purified from plasma, urine and amniotic fluid. In all these crystals we found a fatty acid molecule bound in the hydrophobic ligand-binding site, a result confirmed by mass spectrometry measurements.In addition we also report the 1.5?Å resolution structures of human holo-RBP4 and of the protein saturated with palmitic and lauric acid and discuss the interaction of the fatty acids and retinol with the protein.     

Assay of human transthyretin-bound holo-retinol-binding protein with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

We describe a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of vitamin A-transporting (holo) transthyretin-bound (TTR) retinol-binding protein (RBP) concentrations in serum or plasma. Holo-TTR—RBP and free retinol derived primarily from free RBP are consistently observed with this chromatographic method. Holo-TTR—RBP concentrations determined by this method are highly correlated to holo-TTR—RBP concentrations measured by chromatography. This method has the advantage of using less expensive columns and having peak areas which are more proportional to their true concentrations in plasma, as determined by comparison to purified protein spectrophotometry and radial immunodiffusion. The percentage of RBP circulating as holo-TTR—RBP decreased significantly as the total concentration of RBP or retinol increased. Because purified holo-TTR—RBP did not dissociate under these chromatographic conditions, this suggests that more vitamin A circulates as holo-free RBP or free retinol in the blood of people with high serum RBP.     

Understanding the physiological role of retinol-binding protein in vitamin A metabolism using transgenic and knockout mouse models

Retinoids (vitamin A and its derivatives) play an essential role in many biological functions. However mammals are incapable of de novo synthesis of vitamin A and must acquire it from the diet. In the intestine, dietary retinoids are incorporated in chylomicrons as retinyl esters, along with other dietary lipids. The majority of dietary retinoid is cleared by and stored within the liver. To meet vitamin A requirements of tissues, the liver secretes retinol (vitamin A alcohol) into the circulation bound to its sole specific carrier protein, retinol-binding protein (RBP). The single known function of this protein is to transport retinol from the hepatic stores to target tissues. Over the last few years, the generation of knockout and transgenic mouse models has significantly contributed to our understanding of RBP function in the metabolism of vitamin A. We discuss below the role of RBP in maintaining normal vision and a steady flux of retinol throughout the body in times of need.     

Regulation of plasma retinol binding protein secretion in human HepG2 cells

Retinol binding protein (RBP) is the plasma transport protein of retinol. Mobilization of RBP from the liver stores is stimulated by retinol. During vitamin A deficiency, RBP secretion is specifically inhibited while its rate of biosynthesis is unaffected. As a consequence, RBP, as apoprotein, accumulates inside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the hepatocyte, and a new elevated steady-state concentration is reached. We have studied the role of degradation on the regulation of RBP metabolism in retinol deficient HepG2 cells and determined the intracellular site where RBP degradation takes place. Pulse-chase experiments show that RBP half-life is ca.9 h in retinol-depleted cells. RBP degradation is slow and is insensitive to the treatment with NH4Cl, which inactivates lysosomal proteases and to the drug brefeldin A, which prevents protein export from the ER. The data obtained suggest that RBP degradation occurs, at least in part, in a pre-Golgi compartment. 2-Mercaptoethanol, at millimolar concentration, induces RBP secretion, suggesting a possible role for sulfhydryl-mediated apo-RBP retention by resident ER proteins.