Clin Mol Hepatol.
2021 Apr;27(2):329-345. 10.3350/cmh.2020.0261.
Serum lipocalin-2 is a potential biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- 2Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- 3Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- 4NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- 5Institute of Hepatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- 6Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for the Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
- 7Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- 8Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- 9Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- KMID: 2514774
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2020.0261
Abstract
- Background/Aims
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of a key biomarker, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), for the detection of NASH progression.
Methods
A mouse NASH model was established using a high-fat diet and a high-sugar drinking water. Gene expression profile of the NASH model was analyzed using RNA sequencing. Moreover, 360 NAFLD patients (steatosis, 83; NASH, 277), 40 healthy individuals, and 87 patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease were recruited.
Results
Inflammatory infiltration, focal necrosis in the leaflets, steatosis, and fibrosis were documented in the mouse liver. In total, 504 genes were differentially expressed in the livers of NASH mice, and showed significant functional enrichment in the inflammation-related category. Upregulated liver LCN2 was found to be significantly interactive with various interleukins and toll-like receptors. Serum LCN2 levels were significantly increased in NAFLD patients. Serum LCN2 levels were correlated with steatosis, intralobular inflammation, semiquantitative fibrosis score, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. The area under the curve of serum LCN2 was 0.987 with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93.5% for NASH diagnosis, and 0.977 with almost the same specificity and sensitivity for steatosis.
Conclusions
LCN2 might be involved in the transition from NAFL to NASH by mediating inflammation. Serum LCN2 levels might be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of NASH.
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- Noninvasive serum biomarkers for liver steatosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Current and future developments
- The Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Pathology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
- Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Clinical Predictors Reflecting the Pathologic Severity of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
