Meteorin-like/Metrnl, a novel secreted protein implicated in inflammation, immunology, and metabolism: A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies

Zhuoqi Li; Ziyu Gao; Tao Sun; Shipeng Zhang; Shengnan Yang; Meilin Zheng; Hui Shen

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1098570

Meteorin-like/Metrnl, a novel secreted protein implicated in inflammation, immunology, and metabolism: A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies

Front Immunol. 2023 Feb 24:14:1098570. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1098570. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Zhuoqi Li¹, Ziyu Gao², Tao Sun¹, Shipeng Zhang¹, Shengnan Yang¹, Meilin Zheng¹, Hui Shen¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shen Yang, China.
² Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shen Yang, China.

Abstract

Meteorin-like, also known as Metrnl, Meteorin-β, Subfatin, and Cometin, is a novel secreted protein exerting pleiotropic effects on inflammation, immunology, and metabolism. Earlier research on this hormone focused on regulating energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. Consequently, several studies attempted to characterize the molecule mechanism of Metrnl in glucose metabolism and obesity-related disorders but reported contradictory clinical results. Recent studies gradually noticed its multiple protective functions in inflammatory immune regulations and cardiometabolic diseases, such as inducing macrophage activation, angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, bone formation, and preventing dyslipidemias. A comprehensive understanding of this novel protein is essential to identify its significance as a potential therapeutic drug or a biomarker of certain diseases. In this review, we present the current knowledge on the physiology of Metrnl and its roles in inflammation, immunology, and metabolism, including animal/cell interventional preclinical studies and human clinical studies. We also describe controversies regarding the data of circulation Metrnl in different disease states to determine its clinical application better.

Keywords: Metrnl; bone; diabetes; heart; immunity; inflammation; metabolism; obesity.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipokines*
Animals
Biomarkers
Humans
Inflammation*
Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
Obesity

Substances

Adipokines
Nerve Growth Factors
Biomarkers

Grants and funding

This review was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81373219) and the Liaoning Education Department (No. JC2019009).