LCN2 (Lipocalin 2)
Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) – A Multifunctional Innate Immune Protein and Biomarker
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | LCN2 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lipocalin 2 |
| Gene Type | Protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 9q34.11 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 3934 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3934 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000148346 |
| UniProt ID | P80188 |
| OMIM ID | 600181 |
| HGNC ID | 6526 |
| Aliases | NGAL, LCN2, 24p3, MSFI, p25 |
Description
LCN2 encodes lipocalin 2, also known as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). This secreted protein binds to bacterial siderophores, thereby sequestering iron and exerting bacteriostatic effects. It is involved in innate immunity, iron homeostasis, inflammation, and cellular stress responses. LCN2 is widely used as a biomarker for acute kidney injury and is implicated in various cancers, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory diseases.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) | LCN2 (NGAL) is rapidly upregulated in renal tubular epithelial cells after injury; secreted into urine and blood, serving as an early biomarker. | ClinVar, NCBI |
| Chronic Kidney Disease | Elevated LCN2 levels correlate with disease progression and inflammation. | NCBI, PubMed |
| Bacterial Infection | LCN2 binds bacterial siderophores (e.g., enterobactin), limiting iron availability and inhibiting bacterial growth. | UniProt, NCBI |
| Colorectal Cancer | Overexpression of LCN2 in tumor tissues; promotes cell proliferation and invasion via iron delivery. | COSMIC, NCBI |
| Breast Cancer | LCN2 expression associated with poor prognosis; may enhance metastasis through MMP-9 stabilization. | COSMIC, NCBI |
| Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome | LCN2 is elevated in adipose tissue and serum; linked to insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. | NCBI, PubMed |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Bone Marrow | 5.2 | Medium |
| Kidney | 4.8 | Medium |
| Liver | 3.1 | Low |
| Lung | 2.5 | Low |
| Trachea | 2.0 | Low |
| Adipose Tissue | 1.8 | Low |
| Spleen | 1.5 | Low |
| Small Intestine | 1.2 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HEK 293 | 6.5 | High expression in embryonic kidney cells |
| HepG2 | 4.0 | Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line |
| MCF7 | 3.2 | Breast cancer cell line |
| A549 | 2.8 | Lung adenocarcinoma cell line |
| THP-1 | 1.5 | Monocytic leukemia cell line; inducible by LPS |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.98C>T (p.Thr33Ile) | Missense | Rare | Unknown functional effect; reported in population databases |
| c.202G>A (p.Gly68Arg) | Missense | Rare | Potential impact on siderophore binding; not validated |
| c.335T>C (p.Leu112Pro) | Missense | Rare | Predicted damaging; no clinical association reported |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
No well-characterized loss-of-function mutations reported in LCN2. Knockout mouse models show impaired iron sequestration and increased susceptibility to bacterial infection.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Overexpression of LCN2 in various cancers is associated with enhanced tumor growth and metastasis, suggesting a gain-of-function role in oncogenesis.
Dominant Negative (DN)
No dominant-negative mutations described for LCN2.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
Pathways
• Innate Immune System (Reactome: R-HSA-168249)
• Iron uptake and transport (Reactome: R-HSA-917937)
• NF-kappaB signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04064)
• IL-17 signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04657)
Protein Summary
Lipocalin 2 (NGAL) is a 25 kDa secreted glycoprotein belonging to the lipocalin family. It adopts a typical β-barrel structure that forms a ligand-binding pocket. Its primary function is to bind bacterial siderophores (e.g., enterobactin), thereby preventing bacterial iron acquisition. In mammals, LCN2 also binds to endogenous siderophores (catechol) and modulates cellular iron delivery. It forms a complex with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), protecting it from degradation and enhancing its activity. LCN2 is expressed in neutrophils, renal tubular cells, hepatocytes, and epithelial cells, and its levels rise dramatically in response to infection, inflammation, and tissue injury.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCN2 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1058 | Human | 3934 | Details Get a Quote |
| CLCN2 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDC09609 | Human | 1181 | Details Get a Quote |
| LCN2 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ20179 | Human | 3934 | Details Get a Quote |
| LCN2 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ18834 | Human | 3934 | Details Get a Quote |
| CLCN2 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ25235 | Human | 1181 | Details Get a Quote |
| CLCN2 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ25237 | Human | 1181 | Details Get a Quote |
| CLCN2 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ25238 | Human | 1181 | Details Get a Quote |
| LCN2 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ53781 | Human | 3934 | Details Get a Quote |
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