Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is a 25-kDa secretory protein currently used as a biomarker for renal injury and inflammation. Its source and cause of the increased serum levels are unclear. The current study compares LCN-2 gene expression with known major acute-phase proteins in the liver in a rat and mouse model of turpentine oil-induced sterile abscess. Serum LCN-2 concentrations increased dramatically up to 200-fold (20 μg/mL) at 48 h after turpentine oil injection. A strong elevation of LCN-2 mRNA in rat liver was observed starting from 4 h up to 48 h after injection, with a maximum (8,738 ± 2,104-fold) at 24 h, which was further confirmed by Western blot analysis. In contrast, the increases in gene expression of α₂-macroglobulin, the major acute-phase protein, and hemoxygenase 1, a positive acute-phase protein, were only 1,025 ± 505-fold and 47 ± 12-fold, respectively, during acute-phase reaction (APR). No considerable change was observed in LCN-2 mRNA in rat kidney and other organs as compared with liver. Using wild-type mice, a massive increase in gene expression of LCN-2, with a maximum of 2,498 ± 84-fold in liver, which is similar to that for serum amyloid A (2,825 ± 233-fold), a major mouse acute-phase protein. However, such an increase was significantly inhibited in interleukin 6 knockout mice during APR. Interleukin 6-treated rat hepatocytes induced a significant time-dependent upregulation of LCN-2.Lipocalin-2 is the major acute-phase protein in rat as compared with α₂-macroglobulin and hemoxygenase 1 and comparable with serum amyloid A in mouse whose gene expression is mainly controlled by interleukin 6. The liver is the main source of serum LCN-2 in the case of APR. ABBREVIATIONS-LCN-2-lipocalin-2-α₂M-α₂-macroglobulin-HO-1-hemoxygenase 1-IL-6-interleukin 6-SAA-serum amyloid A-TO-turpentine oil-APR-acute-phase reaction.

Background Evidence from a canine experimental acute myocardial infarction (MI) model shows that until the seventh week after MI the relationship between stellate ganglionic nerve and vagal nerve activities (SGNA/VNA) progressively increases. Objective We evaluated how autonomic nervous system activity influences temporal myocardial repolarization dispersion at this period. Methods We analyzed autonomic nerve activity as well as QT and RR variability from recordings previously obtained in 9 dogs. From a total 48 short-term electrocardiographic segments, 24 recorded before and 24 seven weeks after experimentally-induced MI, we obtained three indices of temporal myocardial repolarization dispersion: QTe (from q wave T to wave end), QTp (from q wave to T wave peak) and Te (from T wave peak to T wave end) variability index (QTeVI, QTpVI, TeVI). We also performed a heart rate variability power spectral analysis on the same segments. Results After MI, all the QT variables increased QTeVI (median [interquartile range]) (from - 1.76[0.82] to −1.32[0.68]), QTeVI (from −1.90[1.01] to −1.45[0.78]) and TeVI (from −0.72[0.67] to −0.22[1.00]), whereas all RR spectral indexes decreased (p<0.001 for all). Distinct circadian rhythms in QTeVI (p<0.05,) QTpVI (p<0.001) and TeVI (p<0.05) appeared after MI with circadian variations resembling that of SGNA/VNA. The morning QTpVI and TeVI acrophases approached the SGNA/VNA acrophase. Conversely, the evening QTeVI acrophase coincided with another SGNA/VNA peak. After MI, regression analysis detected a positive relationship between SGNA/VNA and TeVI (R2: 0.077; β: 0.278; p< 0.001). Conclusion Temporal myocardial repolarization dispersion shows a circadian variation after MI reaching its peak at a time when sympathetic is highest and vagal activity lowest.

Urinary albumin excretion (UAE) was determined by radioimmunoassay in two 24 h urine collections from 125 diabetic children and adolescents and from 71 normal children matched for age and sex. Thirteen patients (10.4%) aged greater than 12 years had microalbuminuria, i.e. log transformed UAE levels above the upper normal range (24.5 mg/24 h). UAE values were positively correlated with age, GH secretion, but not with duration of disease, glycosylated hemoglobin, renal size or N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase excretion. Diabetic normoalbuminuric children aged 10 years and older had significantly higher UAE than controls and than younger diabetic patients matched for duration of disease. HLA DR3/DR4 heterozygosity frequency was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in the microalbuminuric group than in the normoalbuminuric. All microalbuminuric subjects (n = 8) with short duration of disease (3.92 +/- 3.43 yr) developed diabetes at puberty. In conclusion, our cross-sectional study suggests: if a number of factors are combined, i.e. HLA DR3/DR4 heterozygosity, onset of disease at puberty and higher GH values, the probability of developing abnormal levels of UAE will increase.

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