Poster Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZBMS 2024 in conjunction with ENSA

Lipocalin-2 across the adult lifespan (#344)

Carlie Bauer 1 2 , Cassandra Smith 3 4 , Sara Vogrin 2 5 6 , Andrew S Palmer 1 , Mary Woessner 1 , Shanie Landen 7 , Macsue Jacques 1 8 , Elizabeth Byrnes 9 , Nir Eynon 8 , Marc Sim 3 4 , Joshua R Lewis 3 4 10 , Itamar Levinger 1 2
  1. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia
  2. Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Victoria University, University of Melbourne and Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
  5. Department of Medicine, Western Health, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia
  6. Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
  7. Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  8. Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  9. PathWest, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
  10. Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead School of Public Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a hormone produced by adipocytes, osteoblasts and renal tubular cells, is implicated in age-related diseases, including cardio-metabolic disease. To understand the role LCN2 may play in pathological states, we first need to elucidate the relationship between circulating LCN2 with indices of cardio-metabolic health during “normal” ageing. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum levels of LCN2, age and cardio-metabolic measures across the adult lifespan in males and females.

We conducted a pooled cohort analysis including 124 community-dwelling males (n = 52) and females (n = 72) (age 20 - 87 years, median BMI 25.92 (23.04, 29.81) kg/m2). Serum LCN2 was analysed using a two-step chemiluminescent microparticle monoclonal immunoassay. The relationship between LCN2 and age was evaluated by linear regression and cubic spline.  Simple linear regressions were performed to investigate the relationship between LCN2 and the following variables: BMI, VO2peak, serum glucose, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry).

For every 1 year increase in age, LCN2 levels were 0.26 mg/L higher (p = 0.007, 95% CI [0.07, 0.45]). Each 1 unit increase in BMI (kg/m2) was associated with 0.88 mg/L higher LCN2 levels (p = 0.027, [0.10, 1.66]) and each 1 unit increase in VO2peak (mL/kg/min) was associated with 0.38 mg/L lower LCN2 (p = 0.003, [-0.63, -0.13]).There was no significant relationship between LCN2 and sex, glucose levels or body composition (all p > 0.05).

LCN2 increased linearly across the adult lifespan while it decreased as fitness level increased. Future research should build on these findings to determine whether LCN2 can be used as a biomarker for chronic disease and if exercise can mitigate age-related disease associated with LCN2 changes.