Increased Expression of Meteorin-Like Hormone in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity and Its Association with Irisin
Open accessAbstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing pandemic associated with metabolic dysregulation and chronic inflammation. Meteorin-like hormone (METRNL) is an adipomyokine that is linked to T2D. Our objective was to evaluate the changes in METRNL levels in T2D and obesity and assess the association of METRNL levels with irisin. Overall, 228 Arab individuals were enrolled. Plasma levels of METRNL and irisin were assessed using immunoassay. Plasma levels of METRNL and irisin were significantly higher in T2D patients than in non-diabetic patients (p < 0.05). When the population was stratified based on obesity, METRNL and irisin levels were significantly higher in obese than in non-obese individuals (p < 0.05). We found a significant positive correlation between METRNL and irisin (r = 0.233 and p = 0.001). Additionally, METRNL and irisin showed significant correlation with various metabolic biomarkers associated with T2D and Obesity. Our data shows elevated METRNL plasma levels in individuals with T2D, further exacerbated with obesity. Additionally, a strong positive association was observed between METRNL and irisin. Further studies are necessary to examine the role of these proteins in T2D and obesity, against their ethnic background and to understand the mechanistic significance of their possible interplay.
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The rise in Metrnl can occur independently of insulin level changes, pointing to its involvement in alternative, non-insulin-dependent glucose uptake pathways that may contribute to metabolic benefits of exercise.
“Intriguingly, the rise in Metrnl can occur independently of insulin level changes, pointing to its involvement in alternative, non-insulin-dependent glucose uptake pathways that may contribute to the metabolic benefits of exercise [70].”
From Exercise-Induced Myokines in Obesity-Related Metabolic Disorders and Cardiovascular Protection: A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [70]
The Introduction reports that exercise stimulates METRNL expression, and the Discussion describes METRNL as involved in promoting glucose uptake. But the paper does not show that a rise in METRNL occurs independently of changes in insulin levels or identify a non-insulin-dependent uptake pathway; its reported measurements compare people with diabetes or obesity, not responses to exercise. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIndividuals with type 2 diabetes or obesity may present with either elevated or reduced concentrations of Metrnl.
“Research indicates that individuals with type 2 diabetes or obesity may present with either elevated [69,70] or reduced concentrations of this myokine [71].”
From Exercise-Induced Myokines in Obesity-Related Metabolic Disorders and Cardiovascular Protection: A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [70]
A recent study found a positive correlation between METRNL and irisin levels in patients with T2DM.
“A recent study found a positive correlation between METRNL and irisin levels in patients with T2DM [92].”
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“Research indicates that individuals with type 2 diabetes or obesity may present with either elevated [69,70] or reduced concentrations of this myokine [71].”
- Authors
- AlKhairi, I., Cherian, P., Abu-Farha, M., Madhoun, A. A., Nizam, R., Melhem, M., Jamal, M., Al-Sabah, S., Ali, H., Tuomilehto, J., Al-Mulla, F., & Abubaker, J.
- Affiliations
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City 15462, Kuwait
- Dasman Diabetes Institute (KW)
- Department of Genetic and Bioinformatics, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City 15462, Kuwait
- Kuwait University (KW)
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Sulaibekhat 90805, Kuwait
- Corresponding author
- Abubaker, Jehad
- ORCID
- Venue
- Cells
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2019-10-19
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1283
- ISSN
- 2073-4409 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6829873
- OpenAlex
- W2981169505
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 7.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cells (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Dasman Diabetes Institute (RA 2015-045)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Keywords
- Metrnl, irisin, type 2 diabetes, obesity, adipokines, plasma biomarkers, metabolic biomarkers, Arabs
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anthropometry, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Edetic Acid, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Fibronectins, Humans, Immunoassay, Male, Obesity, Adipokines
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