Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a retinol transporter in the blood plasma. Many diseases alter the plasma or serum levels of RBP4. Since serum RBP4 concentrations have been reported to decrease in hyperthyroidism, this study investigated whether serum RBP4 concentrations increased or remained constant in hypothyroidism. In sera from patients with hypothyroidism (n=71), hyperthyroidism (n=30), and healthy subjects (n=20), serum concentrations of RBP4 (sum of holo- and apo-RBP4), retinol, albumin, creatinine, and related constituents were measured, and RBP4/retinol molar ratio (as an index of apo-RBP4) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated. The results showed that serum RBP4 concentrations tended to increase with decreasing free thyroxine concentrations, but there were no significant differences among patients with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and healthy subjects. When patients with hypothyroidism were subdivided by serum RBP4 level using 2.1 μmol/L cut-off value, patients with >2.1 μmol/L were revealed to be patients with older age having lower tri-iodothyronine, higher holo-RBP4, higher apo-RBP4, higher retinol, higher RBP4/retinol molar ratio, and lower eGFR than those in patients with <2.1 μmol/L. Multiple regression analysis showed significant associations between serum RBP4 levels and explanatory variables (retinol and eGFR). Although serum levels of RBP4 prior to the onset of renal dysfunction may affect the present concentrations, we conclude that the increase of serum RBP4 (both holo- and apo-RBP4) in patients with hypothyroidism was attributed to the decline in eGFR. In contrast, serum RBP4 concentration remained constant without renal dysfunction.
Keywords: albumin catabolism; glomerular filtration rate; kidney function; thyroid disease; vitamin A transporter.