The Association of Elevated Serum Lipocalin-2 Levels With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

BackgroundA variety of studies have demonstrated the role of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) in both diabetes and neurological disorders. Nevertheless, the relationship between LCN2 and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) needs to be elucidated in humans. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the association of LCN2 with DPN in type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsA total 207 participants with T2D were included in this study. All participants were classified into DNP group and non-DNP (NDPN) group based on the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Scoring (TCNS). Demographic and biochemical parameters were measured. Serum LCN2 levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. ResultsSerum LCN2 levels in DNP group were higher than those in NDPN group (p = 0.001). Stratification analysis according to the tertiles of serum LCN2 levels showed that with the LCN2 level elevated, the number of participants with DPN increased, whereas the number of participants with NDPN decreased (trend p = 0.003). Moreover, serum LCN2 levels positively correlated to TCNS scores, which reflects neuropathy severity (r = 0.438, p = 0.000). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that BMI, triglycerides and diastolic pressure were independently associated with serum LCN2 in DPN. Additionally, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that LCN2 (OR = 1.009) and diabetes duration (OR = 1.058) were independently associated with the occurrence of DPN in T2D.ConclusionsOur report reveals the association of serum LCN2 with DPN in T2D. LCN2 might be used to evaluate DPN severity and serve a role in the pathogenesis of DPN.