Serum Chemerin Levels Correlate With Severity of Dysglycemia in Young Adult Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Abstract

Context: A subset of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) individuals also have type 2 diabetes (T2D); an unmet need to identify this subgroup exists.

Objective: We looked at the potential role of serum chemerin, a proinflammatory adipokine, in identifying dysglycemic PCOS.

Methods: A total of 93 PCOS and 33 healthy controls were classified, based on fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose levels (2hPGPG) and glycated hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) (%) into normoglycemic (n = 34), dysglycemic (n = 33), and T2D (n = 26). Serum chemerin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Homeostatic model 2 assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-2IR) and homeostatic model 2 assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-2β) were computed using serum C-peptide.

Results: Metabolic syndrome was present in 9.7% (National Cholesterol Education Program) of PCOS. Waist circumference, body fat (%), 2hPGPG, and HbA_1c levels were significantly higher in T2D group. Serum triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TGs/HDL-c) ratio was increased in PCOS individuals with T2D; no significant changes in total cholesterol and LDL-c levels were seen. Serum chemerin levels were significantly higher (P < .001) in the PCOS group. Total body fat (%), 2hPGPG, HbA_1c, and TG/HDL-c ratio correlated positively with chemerin levels. Serum chemerin levels correlated positively with HOMA2IR and negatively with HOMA-2β. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a serum chemerin cutoff level of greater than 309.3 ng/mL differentiated PCOS individuals with dysglycemia from those without (sensitivity 85.71%, specificity 89.47%). The Cohen kappa test revealed a substantial agreement (P < .001) between chemerin cutoff and 2hPGPG levels greater than 200 mg/dL. The present study is arguably the first ever to define a serum chemerin cutoff to distinguish PCOS individuals with T2D from those without.

Conclusion: Elevated serum chemerin levels reliably identify PCOS individuals with dysglycemia. Further, longitudinal studies with larger samples are required to confirm this association.