Serum levels of angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) are increased in polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent reproductive and metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance. Recently, angiopoietins were identified in the systemic circulation and have been designated angiopoietinlike proteins (ANGPTL). More recently, it is shown that angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF, also called ANGPTL6) directly regulate lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism independent of angiogenic effects in animal studies. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between AGF and PCOS. METHODS: The study included 55 [corrected] patients with PCOS and 30 healthy control women. We analyzed serum levels of AGF and other biochemical and anthropometric markers in all the subjects. RESULTS: This study showed that serum AGF levels were significantly higher in the subjects with PCOS (102.28 ng/mL) than those in the healthy control group (63.08 ng/mL; P < 0.001). Body mass index (24.33 vs 22.11 kg/m; P = 0.017), free testosterone (2.81 vs 2.17 pmol/L; P = 0.009), androstenedione (3.28 vs 2.92 nmol/L; P = 0.033), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (2.72 vs 2.09 ng/mL; P = 0.039), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (2.65 vs 1.9; P = 0.016), and fasting glucose (107.09 vs 96.18 mmol/L; P = 0.001) were found significantly higher in PCOS group than in control group. But there was no correlation between AGF and these parameters in PCOS group. In addition, no correlation between the AGF and other distinctive features of PCOS was found. CONCLUSIONS: Serum AGF levels were paradoxically increased in patients with PCOS in comparison with data of animal experiments. Further studies are needed to better elucidate the physiologic significance of circulating AGF in human disease.

Serum angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) levels are elevated in gestational diabetes mellitus and associated with insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE: Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) is associated with angiogenesis but it can also affect glucose and energy metabolism. The aim of the study was to determine AGF levels in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 44 patients with GDM (GDM group) and 33 non-diabetic, healthy women in the third trimester of pregnancy (control group). We analyzed serum levels of AGF and other biochemical and anthropometric markers in all subjects. RESULTS: The study revealed that serum AGF levels were significantly higher in patients with GDM (113.30 +/- 69.92 ng/ml) than in controls (52.30 +/- 35.59 ng/ml), (p-value<0.001). Fasting glucose (117.59 vs. 82.18), homeostasis model of assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), (2.91 vs. 1.75) diastolic (74.20 vs. 70.00) and mean (89.09 vs. 84.84) blood pressure were found to be significantly higher in the GDM group when compared to the control group (p-value<0.05). There was a significant positive association between AGF and HOMA-IR in the GDM group. CONCLUSIONS: Although gestational diabetes mellitus can be a predictor of serum AGF level, further studies are needed to explain the physiologic roles of AGF in glucose metabolism.