This protein belongs to the lipocalin family and is the specific carrier for retinol (vitamin A alcohol) in the blood. It delivers retinol from the liver stores to the peripheral tissues. In plasma, the RBP-retinol complex interacts with transthyretin which prevents its loss by filtration through the kidney glomeruli. A deficiency of vitamin A blocks secretion of the binding protein posttranslationally and results in defective delivery and supply to the epidermal cells. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008],MCOPCB10, RDCCAS,Blood,Blood_Serum Proteins,Cancer,Cardiovascular,Cardiovascular diseases,Cardiovascular diseases_Heart disease,Endocrine & Metabolism,Endocrine and metabolic diseases,Endocrine and metabolic diseases_Diabetes,Heart,Signal Transduction,RBP4