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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.

Background: Animal studies suggest that exposure to certain neonicotinoids may interfere with the normal function of endocrine system in mammals. However, evidence from human studies is limited. Objectives: This study conducted a cross-sectional analysis to examine urinary neonicotinoids concentrations in Chinese adolescents and its association with pubertal development. Methods: 774 urine samples from 439 boys (median age: 13.7 years; 25th-75th percentile: 12.7-14.5 years) and 335 girls (median age: 13.7 years; 25th-75th percentile: 12.7–14.5 years) were collected for determination of ten neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, nitenpyram, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, imidaclothiz, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, dinotefuran, flonicamid, sulfoxaflor) and one metabolite (N-desmethyl-acetamiprid). Urinary creatinine was detected for concentration adjustment. Pubertal development including pubic hair, axillary hair, genitalia (boys), testicular volume (boys) and breast (girls) assessed by Tanner stages and others (spermarche, facial hair for boys and menarche for girls) were obtained by physical examination and questionnaire. Logistic and bayesian kernel machine regression were used to investigate the association between neonicotinoids concentrations and pubertal developments. Results: High detection rates ranged from 72.0% to 100.0% for all neonicotinoids. Boys and girls with thiacloprid concentration at the >75th percentile had lower stage of genitalia development (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.33–0.93) and higher stage of axillary hair development (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.12–3.41), respectively, compared with those at the