Lipocalin‐2 expression and serum levels as early predictors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese women

Obesity and diabetes are increasing in epidemic proportions globally. Lipocalin‐2 (LCN‐2) is an inflammatory adipocytokine and obesity‐related marker of low‐grade inflammation. We aimed to investigate, for first time, the possible role of LCN‐2 expression and serum levels in prediction of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among obese Egyptian women. This study included 188 obese women and 180 controls. Obese women were subdivided into three subgroups according to their fasting blood glucose, normal glucose tolerance (NGT), IGT and T2DM. Circulating LCN‐2 expression levels were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction. Serum LCN‐2 concentrations were assessed by ELISA. Our findings revealed that LCN‐2 expression and serum levels were higher in obese women compared to lean controls.