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. 2020 Aug 26;12(8):e10040.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.10040.

Does Lipocalin-2 Affect Metabolic Syndrome in Hepatic Infections?

Waqas Shahnawaz  1 , Nawal Suhail  1 , Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal Siddiqui  1 , Saira Yasmeen  2 , Syeda Sadia Fatima  3
Affiliations

Does Lipocalin-2 Affect Metabolic Syndrome in Hepatic Infections?

Waqas Shahnawaz et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background and objective Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is an adipokine that plays a protective role in various inflammatory disorders and regulates innate immune response to acute and chronic infections. However, scant information is available regarding the relationship between serum LCN-2 levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) occurring concurrently with chronic hepatic infections. The present study sought to investigate the association of LCN-2 with T2DM patients with hepatic infections. Methods The association of LCN-2 with T2DM, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation was tested in 37 non-T2DM noninfectious individuals (group A, control group) and 55 age-matched patients with T2DM and chronic infection (group B). Anthropometric data were measured and the body-fat percentage was calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Hemoglobin (Hb), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), liver function enzymes (LFEs), lipid profile, and total leukocyte count (TLC) were measured. Serum LCN-2 levels were measured using a commercially available sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results Levels of LCN-2 were significantly elevated in group B (1896.90 ± 73.13 ng/ml) versus control group A (263.58 ± 15.66 ng/mL; p<0.001). LCN-2 correlated moderately with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (r=0.369), alkaline phosphatase ALP (r=0.419), and HbA1c (r=0.341) (p<0.01). All correlations were lost when adjusted for the presence of hepatitis, indicating that liver infection exacerbates insulin resistance. Conclusion Based on our findings, circulating LCN-2 is elevated in T2DM subjects with hepatitis B co-infection and may contribute towards deranged inflammatory response.

Keywords: diabetes; hepatitis; lipocalin; obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Summary of materials and methods
PCR: polymerase chain reaction; BMI: body mass index; BIA: bioelectrical impedance analysis; HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin
Figure 2
Figure 2. LCN-2 levels for group A and group B
Box-plot graph for LCN-2 levels showing results of the Mann-Whitney U test for both groups. Group B had significantly higher levels of LCN-2 with a significant p-value of less than 0.01 LCN-2: lipocalin-2
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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