HealthAugust 24, 2026

lipocalin

ly-POH-kuh-lin

Definition

A type of protein that functions as a transport molecule for small, hydrophobic substances, one form of which (NGAL) serves as an early indicator of kidney injury.

Etymology

The term is derived from the Greek word 'lipos' (fat) and the Latin 'calix' (cup), referencing the protein's barrel-shaped structure that acts like a cup to bind fatty acids and other molecules.

In the news

In the article, lipocalin is specifically mentioned as part of NGAL, a protein biomarker that the new microneedle patch detects to diagnose kidney damage at an early stage.

Microneedle Patch May Detect Kidney Disease Early

Read the full article ↗

Mirage News

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