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A Review of “Lipocalin 2 mediates an innate immune response to bacterial infection by sequestrating iron.”

The article is a report on an experiment that describes the benefits of lipocalin 2 in the body’s immunity and its response to pathogens. To illustrate how lipocalin 2 works in vivo in the mammalian immune system, the scientists experiment on laboratory mice. They infect mice that can auto-generate lipocalin 2 with a sub-lethal experimental species of Escherichia coli bacteria, H9049. The scientists then generate mice that are deficient in lipocalin and infect these mice with a similar dose of E. coli. The scientists use uninfected mice as the control group of the experiment. Ultimately, the lipocalin-2-deficient mice exhibit higher levels of bacterial levels in their livers and spleens than in those with lipocalin 2. However, the numbers of leukocytes, the iron distribution, and the infiltration levels in both sets of mice (infected mice) are similar. This study reveals another constituent of the mammalian immune system.

An understanding of the mechanism of action of lipocalin 2 is significant in the fight against disease-causing-pathogens since lipocalin 2 is seen to bind many siderophores. Siderophores are synthesized by bacteria in an iron-deficient environment to look for iron from iron-binding proteins and transport it back to the bacteria. Despite lipocalin 2 binding many catecholate-type siderophores, such as enterocheline, it does not bind poly-carboxylate-type siderophores or hydroxamate-type siderophores.

This study is essential since it details the benefits of lipocalin 2 in the inhibition of bacterial growth. Lipocalin 2 works by sequestering iron that is much needed for the growth of bacteremia in the first stages of infection. From the study, the mice that could not secrete lipocalin 2 died within the first forty-two hours of administering the E. coli. Before dying, the mice displayed physical signs of sepsis such as ruffled fur, hunched posture, and lethargy. This finding has a considerable impact on the clinical treatment of bacterial sepsis. The role of lipocalin 2 in the fight against pathogens by limiting their growth is crucial since bacteria such as E. coli can cause intestinal infection which is accompanied by symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Moreover, dangerous bacteria like salmonella that depend on catecholate siderophores can be eliminated using lipocalin 2.

The next experiment that the scientists could undertake should involve the role of lipocalin 2 in the apoptosis of cells. Just like the positive role of lipocalin 2 in fighting pathogens has been studied, so should its adverse effects. This experiment would be significant since many scientists debate the role of lipocalin 2, with some refuting the claim that lipocalin 2 induces apoptosis.