RBP4 contributes to the development of insulin resistance by impairing insulin signalling in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, upregulating lipolysis and inflammation in adipose tissue and increasing gluconeogenesis and lipid accumulation in the liver (Yang et al., 2005; Ost et al., 2007; Norseen et al., 2012; Lee et al., 2016). Here, INS is linked to Insulin resistance.