title: Plasma NOV/CCN3 levels are closely associated with obesity in patients with metabolic disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence points to a founder of the multifunctional CCN family, NOV/CCN3, as a circulating molecule involved in cardiac development, vascular homeostasis and inflammation. No data are available on the relationship between plasma NOV/CCN3 levels and cardiovascular risk factors in humans. This study investigated the possible relationship between plasma NOV levels and cardiovascular risk factors in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  NOV levels were measured in the plasma from 594 adults with a hyperlipidemia history and/or with lipid-lowering therapy and/or a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2). Correlations were measured between NOV plasma levels and various parameters, including BMI, fat mass, and plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, and C-reactive protein. NOV expression was also evaluated in adipose tissue from obese patients and rodents and in primary cultures of adipocytes and macrophages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After full multivariate adjustment, we detected a strong positive correlation between plasma NOV and BMI (r = 0.36 p<0.0001) and fat mass (r = 0.33 p<0.0005). According to quintiles, this relationship appeared to be linear. NOV levels were also positively correlated with C-reactive protein but not with total cholesterol, LDL-C or blood glucose. In patients with drastic weight loss induced by Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery, circulating NOV levels decreased by 28% (p<0.02) and 48% (p<0.0001) after 3 and 6 months, respectively, following surgery. In adipose tissue from obese patients, and in human primary cultures NOV protein was detected in adipocytes and macrophages. In mice fed a high fat diet NOV plasma levels and its expression in adipose tissue were also significantly increased compared to controls fed a standard diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results strongly suggest that in obese humans and mice plasma NOV levels positively correlated with NOV expression in adipose tissue, and support a possible contribution of NOV to obesity-related inflammation.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR_S938, Saint-Antoine Research Center, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jihane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pakradouni
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Le Goff
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calmel
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Antoine
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villard
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frisdal
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abifadel
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tordjman
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poitou
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonnefont-Rousselot
authors.forename: Randa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bittar
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruckert
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fève
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinerie
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guérin
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C526319:CCN3 protein, human; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein