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Perinatal lipocalin-2 profile at the extremes of fetal growth

Aimilia Eirini Papathanasiou1, Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner1, Stavroula Gavrili2

  • 1Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|August 28, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) levels in cord blood are higher than in maternal serum and may indicate fetal origin and a role in intrauterine growth. Elevated cord blood LCN-2 in growth-restricted neonates suggests potential kidney issues.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal research
  • Endocrinology
  • Perinatal medicine

Background:

  • Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is an osteoblast-secreted hormone involved in immunity, inflammation, and metabolic homeostasis.
  • LCN-2 is a biomarker for acute kidney injury in neonates.
  • Fetal growth impacts LCN-2 concentrations in maternal serum, cord serum, and breast milk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the impact of fetal growth on LCN-2 concentrations.
  • Analyze associations between LCN-2 and perinatal parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Measured LCN-2 concentrations using ELISA in 80 mothers and their neonates (AGA, LGA, IUGR).
  • Classified neonates by customized weight centiles.
  • Correlated LCN-2 levels with birth weight, centile, gender, maternal age, and delivery mode.

Main Results:

  • Maternal serum LCN-2 was higher in AGA infant deliveries.
  • Cord serum LCN-2 exceeded maternal levels and was elevated in IUGR vs. LGA neonates.
  • Breast milk LCN-2 was low and consistent across groups.
  • Negative correlation between cord LCN-2 and customized centiles (r: -0.304, p = .007).

Conclusions:

  • Higher cord LCN-2 suggests fetal origin and a role in intrauterine growth.
  • Elevated cord LCN-2 in IUGR may indicate reduced nephron endowment or kidney damage.
  • Low LCN-2 in breast milk suggests maternal circulation to milk is not affected by intrauterine growth pathology.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdipokinesNGALbreast milkcord bloodfetal growthlipocalin-2

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