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MINI REVIEW article
Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Molecular and Cellular Pathology
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1587165
Retinol-Binding Protein 4 in Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle: Molecular Mechanisms, Clinical Implications, and Future Perspectives
Provisionally accepted- 1 Nanjing Central Hospital, Nanjing, Liaoning Province, China
- 2 Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- 3 Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Yangpu, China
Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has emerged as a critical adipokine involved in the pathophysiology of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Beyond its classical role in retinol transport, RBP4 influences insulin resistance, inflammation, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and cellular apoptosis in both skeletal and cardiac muscles. Elevated levels of RBP4 are associated with obesity, type 2 mellitus diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, making it a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. This comprehensive review elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which RBP4 affects skeletal and cardiac muscle physiology. We discuss its clinical implications as a biomarker for disease risk and progression, explore therapeutic strategies targeting RBP4, and highlight future research directions.Understanding the multifaceted roles of RBP4 could pave the way for novel interventions against metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.
Keywords: Retinol-binding protein 4, skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation, cardiovascular disease, Molecular mechanisms, Adipokine
Received: 04 Mar 2025; Accepted: 24 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Wang, Gao and Guo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Rong Guo, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Yangpu, China
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