Meteorin-like/Metrnl: A pleiotropic cytokine implicated in metabolic, inflammatory and malignant disorders

IF 13.4 2区医学 Q1 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-05 DOI:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2025.12.003

Jinlian Li , Pei Ye , Jingli Si , Guangda Xiang

{"title":"Meteorin-like/Metrnl: A pleiotropic cytokine implicated in metabolic, inflammatory and malignant disorders","authors":"Jinlian Li , Pei Ye , Jingli Si , Guangda Xiang","doi":"10.1016/j.cytogfr.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metrnl, a secreted protein highly expressed in adipocytes, endothelial cells, muscle cells, and activated macrophages, has been identified as a novel myokine and adipokine. It plays important roles in enhancing white fat browning, improving insulin sensitivity, modulating glucose homeostasis and regulating inflammatory response. These studies suggest that Metrnl could be a promising biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for the related diseases. However, it is worth noting that there are still several controversies persist within its research field: 1. Metrnl concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity yield conflicting results, which has raised doubts about the precise role and reliable application of Metrnl as a biomarker in metabolic diseases; 2. Metrnl exhibits a dual nature that is dependent on specific environments, with both anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory functions; 3.Exercise-induced Metrnl can bring about systemic metabolic benefits, but the CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell -derived Metrnl impairs anti-tumor effects, raising a critical concern about the potential effects of exercise-induced Metrnl on cancer progression. Therefore, this review would explore those significant controversies and conflicting results surrounding the function and clinical relevance of Metrnl, and proposes future research directions to utilize the therapeutic potential of Metrnl in metabolic and inflammatory and malignant disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11132,"journal":{"name":"Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews","volume":"87 ","pages":"Pages 64-72"},"PeriodicalIF":13.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359610125001595","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/12/5 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Metrnl, a secreted protein highly expressed in adipocytes, endothelial cells, muscle cells, and activated macrophages, has been identified as a novel myokine and adipokine. It plays important roles in enhancing white fat browning, improving insulin sensitivity, modulating glucose homeostasis and regulating inflammatory response. These studies suggest that Metrnl could be a promising biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for the related diseases. However, it is worth noting that there are still several controversies persist within its research field: 1. Metrnl concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity yield conflicting results, which has raised doubts about the precise role and reliable application of Metrnl as a biomarker in metabolic diseases; 2. Metrnl exhibits a dual nature that is dependent on specific environments, with both anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory functions; 3.Exercise-induced Metrnl can bring about systemic metabolic benefits, but the CD8⁺ T cell -derived Metrnl impairs anti-tumor effects, raising a critical concern about the potential effects of exercise-induced Metrnl on cancer progression. Therefore, this review would explore those significant controversies and conflicting results surrounding the function and clinical relevance of Metrnl, and proposes future research directions to utilize the therapeutic potential of Metrnl in metabolic and inflammatory and malignant disorders.

查看原文本刊更多论文

流星蛋白样/Metrnl：一种多效细胞因子，与代谢、炎症和恶性疾病有关。

Metrnl是一种在脂肪细胞、内皮细胞、肌肉细胞和活化的巨噬细胞中高度表达的分泌蛋白，已被确定为一种新的肌因子和脂肪因子。它在促进白色脂肪褐变、改善胰岛素敏感性、调节葡萄糖稳态和调节炎症反应等方面发挥重要作用。这些研究表明，Metrnl可能是一个有前景的生物标志物和潜在的治疗相关疾病的靶点。然而，值得注意的是，在其研究领域中仍存在一些争议：1。2型糖尿病和肥胖症患者的Metrnl浓度产生相互矛盾的结果，这引起了对Metrnl作为代谢性疾病生物标志物的确切作用和可靠应用的质疑；2. Metrnl表现出依赖于特定环境的双重性质，具有抗炎和促炎功能；3.运动诱导的Metrnl可以带来全身代谢益处，但CD8+ T细胞衍生的Metrnl会损害抗肿瘤作用，这引起了人们对运动诱导的Metrnl对癌症进展的潜在影响的关注。因此，本文将探讨围绕Metrnl的功能和临床相关性的重大争议和相互矛盾的结果，并提出未来的研究方向，以利用Metrnl在代谢、炎症和恶性疾病中的治疗潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 生物-生化与分子生物学

CiteScore

21.10

自引率

1.50%

发文量

审稿时长

22 days

期刊介绍： Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews is a leading publication that focuses on the dynamic fields of growth factor and cytokine research. Our journal offers a platform for authors to disseminate thought-provoking articles such as critical reviews, state-of-the-art reviews, letters to the editor, and meeting reviews. We aim to cover important breakthroughs in these rapidly evolving areas, providing valuable insights into the multidisciplinary significance of cytokines and growth factors. Our journal spans various domains including signal transduction, cell growth and differentiation, embryonic development, immunology, tumorigenesis, and clinical medicine. By publishing cutting-edge research and analysis, we aim to influence the way researchers and experts perceive and understand growth factors and cytokines. We encourage novel expressions of ideas and innovative approaches to organizing content, fostering a stimulating environment for knowledge exchange and scientific advancement.