Abnormalities in several other metabolic processes are evident in these diseases, and may be marked by molecular markers such as sRAGE (soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products, arising from the endothelium and elsewhere, and with pathophysiological links to diabetes), cystatin-c (reflecting renal function), leptin (arising from adipose tissue and with roles in digestion), lipocalin-2 (an inflammatory adipokine, also known as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, linked to nephropathy) and interleukin-8 (also known as CXCL8, a pro-inflammatory cytokine) (5–9). This evidence concerns the gene LCN2 and kidney disorder.