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 ± 4.47 vs. 68.70 ± 3.65 ng/mL (p < 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 β = 0.114, t = 2.347, p = 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetology at Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China, yezifighting@163.com.
authors.forename: Zi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Suijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xuanchun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Zhaoyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Renming
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000368:Aged; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000097:blood*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D018925:Chemokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C478630:RARRES2 protein, human; D002403:Cathepsins; C028217:cathepsin S