Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
Correlation of serum meteorin-like concentrations with diabetic nephropathy
Rui Wang1, Dongming Hu2, Xiaoyun Zhao3
1Department of Blood Transfusion, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.
Objective:
Meteorin-like (Metrnl), a secreted myokine, is induced in white adipose tissue during cold exposure and in muscle after exercise. The present investigation aims to determine the hypothesis that serum Metrnl concentrations are correlated with diabetic nephropathy (DN).
Methods:
The investigation was performed in a population of 221 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 74 healthy subjects. T2DM patients were divided into three groups: normoalbuminuria (n = 100), microalbuminuria (n = 86), and macroalbuminuria (n = 35) subgroups based on urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR).
Results:
All the three T2DM subgroups showed lower serum Metrnl concentrations compared with the controls. Serum Metrnl concentrations were significantly decreased in T2DM patients with macroalbuminuria group than in the other T2DM subgroups. In addition, T2DM patients with microalbuminuria group had decreased serum Metrnl concentrations compared with those with normoalbuminuria; however, the difference was not significant. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between serum Metrnl and a decreased risk of T2DM and DN (OR: 0.954, 95% CI: 0.935-0.973, P < 0.001 and OR: 0.981, 95% CI: 0.971-0.997, P = 0.014, respectively). Simply linear regression analysis indicated a negative association between serum Metrnl and duration of disease, body mass index (BMI), HbA1c, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uricacid, ACR, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blockers treatment. BMI, HbA1c, and ACR were still correlated with the serum Metrnl after a multiple linear regression analysis.
Conclusion:
Serum Metrnl concentrations are inversely correlated with renal function and DN.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests
Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Serum Creatinine Concentration
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

