Association of serum Metrnl levels and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

PeerJ. 2024 Oct 14:12:e18264. doi: 10.7717/peerj.18264. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Purpose: Meteorin-like (Metrnl) is a novel adipokine which is highly expressed in adipose tissue and has a beneficial effect on glucose and lipid metabolism. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is well recognized to be inversely associated with cardiovascular events. However, the relationship between serum Metrnl levels and HDL-C in the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the association of serum Metrnl with HDL-C levels in T2DM.

Materials and methods: Eighty participants with T2DM were included in this cross-sectional study. They were divided into two groups according to HDL-C levels: Group1 (lower HDL-C group): HDL-C < 1.04 mmol/L; Group2 (higher HDL-C group): HDL-C ≥ 1.04 mmol/L. Serum Metrnl levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: As compared with lower HDL-C levels groups, serum Metrnl levels were significantly higher in the group with higher HDL-C. Binary logistic regression analysis showed serum Metrnl levels were positively associated with HDL-C group after adjustment with sex, age, body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), fasting blood glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG). Furthermore, serum Metrnl levels were inversely correlated with insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). HDL-C levels were lowest in the group with the lowest Metrnl levels group and remained positively associated with Metrnl after adjustment for sex, age, BMI, TG, and HOMA-IR by using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion: Serum Metrnl levels were positively associated with HDL-C levels in patients with T2DM.This suggests that increasing serum Metrnl levels maybe a candidate for improving lipid metabolism and preventing cardiovascular events in T2DM.

Registry and the registration no of the study/trial: The study was registered in the Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR- 2100047148).

Keywords: Dyslipidemia; High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Meteorin-like; T2DM.

MeSH terms

  • Adipokines / blood
  • Aged
  • Cholesterol, HDL* / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Metrnl protein, human
  • Adipokines

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82070842), the Clinical Research Fund of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health (202040136), the China Diabetes Young Scientific Talent Research Project (2018-N-01), and the Jiangxi Health Commission Science and Technology Plan Project (202212838, 202212852). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.