Plasma midkine concentrations in healthy children, children with increased and decreased adiposity, and children with short stature

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224103
• Publication Date: 2019-10-24T17:47:39Z
• Authors: Youn Hee Jee; Kun Song Lee; Shanna Yue; Ellen W. Leschek; Matthew G. Boden; Aysha Jadra; Anne Klibanski; Priya Vaidyanathan; Madhusmita Misra; Young Pyo Chang; Jack A. Yanovski; Jeffrey Baron
• Keywords: Midkine; Anorexia nervosa

Background Midkine (MDK), one of the heparin-binding growth factors, is highly expressed in multiple organs during embryogenesis. Plasma concentrations have been reported to be elevated patients with a variety malignancies, adults obesity, and children short stature, diabetes, obesity. However, healthy their relationships age, nutrition, linear not well studied. Subjects methods MDK was measured by immunoassay 222 healthy, normal-weight (age 0–18 yrs, 101 boys), 206 18–91 60 males), 61 BMI ≥ 95th percentile 4–18 20 girls young women anorexia nervosa 14–23 yrs), 75 idiopathic stature 3–18 42 boys). Body fat evaluated dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) subset subjects. The associations sex, adiposity, race/ethnicity were evaluated. Results In children, plasma declined age (r = -0.54, P < 0.001) values highest infants. decline occurred primarily first year life. did significantly differ between males females or race/ethnic groups. correlated SDS, mass (kg) percent total body fat, no difference found nervosa, weight For from normal height subjects, according SDS IGF-1 SDS. Conclusions associated stature-for-age. These findings provide useful reference data for studies malignancies other pathological conditions.