Objective(s): Lipocalin2 (Lcn2) gene is highly expressed in response to various types of cellular stresses. The precise role of Lcn2 has not been fully understood yet. However, it plays a key role in controlling vital cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and metabolism. Recently it was shown that Lcn2 decreases senescence and increases proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC...

BACKGROUND Elevated serum level of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been associated with obesity-related co-morbidities including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. OBJECTIVES The present study examined the relationship between serum level of RBP4 and various risk factors related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and women. METHODS 284 subjects (139 males, 145 femal...

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is being increasingly shown to be a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but little is known about the possible mechanistic links. We hypothesized that analysis of the genomic signature in the repair stage after AKI would reveal pathways that could link AKI and CKD. Unilateral renal pedicle clamping for 45 min was performed in male C57BL/6J mice. Mice were eut...

BACKGROUND Lipocalin-2 is a proinflammatory adipokine upregulated in obese humans and animals. A pathogenic role of lipocalin-2 in hypertension has been suggested. Mice lacking lipocalin-2 are protected from dietary obesity-induced cardiovascular dysfunctions. Administration of lipocalin-2 causes abnormal vasodilator responses in mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS AND RESULTS Wild-type an...

I t is well known that adipocytes and resident macrophages that have migrated to adipose tissue produce and secrete a variety of biologically active mediators (adipocytokines), which are thought to contribute to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (1). The abnormal function of adipocytes may play an important role in the development of a chronic lo...

Cisplatin is one of the most useful chemotherapeutics which performs its cytotoxic effectvia accumulation of platinum resulting in oxidative stress, and destruction of cell DNA. Thiscould probably cause secondary cancers in healthy tissues. Lipocalin2 (Lcn2) is a protein whichits expression is increased in oxidative stresses. Therefore, the present study was performedto evaluate the protective ...