Research Article Details

Article ID: A22640
PMID: 24390241
Source: Mol Biol Rep
Title: Serum lipocalin-2, cathepsin S and chemerin levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Abstract: Several novel circulating adipokines are associated with insulin resistance and inflammation. Little information exists in NAFLD about three recently recognized adipokines lipocalin-2, cathepsin S and chemerin. To assess the relationship between serum lipocalin-2, cathepsin S and chemerin levels and the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver in Chinese subjects, we measured serum lipocalin-2, cathepsin S and chemerin levels in 903 Chinese subjects by ELISA. Among the study population, 436 patients are with B-mode ultrasound-proven NAFLD and 467 controls. Levels of lipocalin-2, but not cathepsin S and chemerin, were significantly elevated in NAFLD versus control [lipocalin-2, 89.67&#160;&#177;&#160;4.47 vs. 68.70&#160;&#177;&#160;3.65&#160;ng/mL (p&#160;<&#160;0.001)]. After stepwise linear regression analysis adjusting for potential cofounders, further revealed that serum lipocalcin-2 was an independent predictor of NAFLD in whole cohort (standardized &#946;&#160;=&#160;0.114, t&#160;=&#160;2.347, p&#160;=&#160;0.02). Lipocalin-2 levels correlated with insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance) and inflammation (CRP) in whole cohorts and NAFLD, whereas cathepsin S and chemerin only correlated positively with insulin resistance and inflammation in whole cohorts. Our results indicated that circulating lipocalin-2, produced by adipocytes, are elevated and may contribute to the development of NAFLD. Serum lipocalin-2, which correlates with inflammation and insulin resistance, may have a direct pathogenic link to disease progression.
DOI: 10.1007/s11033-013-2977-5