Context: Recently cartonectin was reported as a novel adipokine, with lower levels in diet-induced obese mice, glucose-lowering effects, and antiinflammatory and cardioprotective properties. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a proinflammatory state associated with obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular complications. Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate cartonectin levels and regulation in sera and adipose tissue (AT) as well as the effects of metformin of

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... en with PCOS and control subjects. Design: This was a cross-sectional study [PCOS (n ϭ 83) and control (n ϭ 39) subjects]. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to assess mRNA and protein expression of cartonectin. Serum cartonectin was measured by an ELISA. Results: Serum and omental adipose tissue cartonectin were significantly lower in women with PCOS compared with control subjects (P Ͻ .05 and P Ͻ .01, respectively). Furthermore, cartonectin showed a significant negative association with body mass index, waist to hip ratio, glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and intima-media thickness (P Ͻ .05 and P Ͻ .01, respectively); in multiple regression analyses, triglycerides (P ϭ.040) and hs-CRP (P ϭ .031) were predictive of cartonectin levels (P Ͻ .05). After 6 months of metformin treatment, there was an associated increase in serum cartonectin (P Ͻ .05). Importantly, changes in hs-CRP were significantly negatively correlated with changes in serum cartonectin (P ϭ .033). Finally, cartonectin protein production and secretion into conditioned media were significantly increased by metformin in control human omental AT explants (P Ͻ .05). Conclusions : Serum and omental AT cartonectin are lower in women with PCOS. Metformin treatment increases serum cartonectin levels in these women and in omental AT explants. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 98: E1891-E1900, 2013)