Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biochemistry

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 4 (A - FABP4) and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) have recently been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of the present study was to investigate serum A - FABP4 and RBP4 levels and their relationship with each other and metabolic parameters and early diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 DM. Subjects and methods: In a case control study, a total number of 60 type 2 diabetic patients (G2) and 20 healthy subjects (G1) were enrolled in the present study. The participants were matched by age and sex. Diabetic patients were classified into two subgroups according to the microalbumin level in urine. normoalbuminuria which include 49 patients (G2a) microalbuminuria which include 11 patients (G2b) serum A - FABP4, RBP4 and microalbumin were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results the serum FABP 4 levels in microalbuminuric patients were significantly higher than in normoalbuminuric patients and the control subjects. FABP4 correlated positively with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, urea, creatinine and microalbuminuria but correlated negatively with GFR. Serum RBP4 levels were similar between controls and patients with and without diabetic nephropathy. RBP4 correlated positively with BMI and systolic blood pressures but correlated negatively with GFR. In conclusion, we found high serum A - FABP4 but unchanged RBP4 concentrations and their associations with renal function and early diabetic nephropathy in type 2 DM

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