Lipocalin-2 levels in children with idiopathic short stature

Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is defined as height below − 2 standard deviation scores (SDS) without identifiable causes. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a protein involved in inflammation and growth plate regulation, was hypothesized to be elevated in ISS, potentially disrupting growth via inflammatory or non-inflammatory mechanisms at the growth plate. This study aimed to compare serum LCN2 levels in children with ISS versus healthy controls and assess LCN2 as a biomarker for growth failure. In a case-control study (July 2023–January 2025), serum LCN2 levels were measured using ELISA in 28 pre-pubertal children with ISS (height ≤ 3rd percentile, normal growth hormone response) and 30 healthy controls (height ≥ 25th percentile). Height SDS, body mass index (BMI) SDS, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) SDS were assessed. Serum LCN2 levels were significantly lower in the ISS group (80.48 ± 20.78 ng/mL) compared to controls (95.37 ± 22.70 ng/mL; p = 0.012). Height SDS positively correlated with LCN2 levels (r = 0.264, p = 0.045), but no correlations were found with age, BMI SDS, or IGF-I SDS. BMI SDS was lower in the ISS than in the control group (-0.32 ± 0.81 vs. 0.35 ± 1.21; p = 0.015). Serum LCN2 levels may be lower in children with ISS than in children with normal stature. Future studies should attempt to elucidate the possible role of LCN2 in regulation of linear growth.