METRNL

METRNL (Meteorin Like, Glial Cell Differentiation Regulator) is a Protein Coding gene. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations related to this gene include hormone activity. An important paralog of this gene is METRN.

Full Name

METEORIN LIKE, GLIAL CELL DIFFERENTIATION REGULATOR

Function

Hormone induced following exercise or cold exposure that promotes energy expenditure. Induced either in the skeletal muscle after exercise or in adipose tissue following cold exposure and is present in the circulation. Able to stimulate energy expenditure associated with the browning of the white fat depots and improves glucose tolerance. Does not promote an increase in a thermogenic gene program via direct action on adipocytes, but acts by stimulating several immune cell subtypes to enter the adipose tissue and activate their prothermogenic actions. Stimulates an eosinophil-dependent increase in IL4 expression and promotes alternative activation of adipose tissue macrophages, which are required for the increased expression of the thermogenic and anti-inflammatory gene programs in fat. Required for some cold-induced thermogenic responses, suggesting a role in metabolic adaptations to cold temperatures (By similarity).

Biological Process

Brown fat cell differentiation Source: UniProtKB
Energy homeostasis Source: UniProtKB
Fat cell differentiation Source: CAFA
Negative regulation of inflammatory response Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of brown fat cell differentiation Source: UniProtKB
Response to cold Source: UniProtKB
Response to muscle activity Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Secreted