Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40205457›Full record

ArticleJournal of intensive care2025

Exploring METRNL as a novel biomarker in sepsis: diagnostic potential and secretion mechanism.

Tian-Ying Xu, Jing-Xin Zhao, Ming-Yao Chen, Zhu-Wei Miao, Zhi-Yong Li, Yong-Qing Chang, Yu-Sheng Wang, Chao-Yu Miao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of intensive care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Tian-Ying Xu *Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China. xty7910@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1011-6854
Jing-Xin Zhao *Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Ming-Yao Chen *Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Zhu-Wei MiaoDepartment of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Zhi-Yong LiDepartment of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Yong-Qing ChangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Yu-Sheng WangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Shanghai, China.
Chao-Yu MiaoDepartment of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China. cymiao@smmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China Major Project 81730098National Natural Science Foundation of China Major Project 82030110National Natural Science Foundation of China Major Project 82330117
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSepsis is a life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate in intensive care unit (ICU). However, rapid and accurate diagnostic criteria are still lacking. This pilot study explored the role of METRNL as a novel biomarker for sepsis by focusing on its diagnostic potential and rapid secretion mechanism.

methodsMETRNL levels were measured in cell and animal models of sepsis. Serum samples from 107 sepsis patients and 95 non-septic controls in ICU were collected. Diagnostic performance of METRNL, Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed using ROC analysis. Endothelial cell-specific Metrnl gene knockout mice (EC-Metrnl

resultsIn lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell and mouse models of sepsis, METRNL levels significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Similarly, in the cecal ligation and puncture mouse models, serum METRNL levels were elevated over time and correlated with sepsis severity. In animals, serum METRNL increased within 1 h post-modeling, preceding PCT and CRP. Clinically, sepsis patients had significantly higher serum METRNL levels. ROC analysis showed area under the curves [95% confidence intervals] of 0.943 [0.91-0.975] for METRNL, 0.955 [0.929-0.981] for PCT and 0.873 [0.825-0.921] for CRP. At the optimal cutoff value, METRNL (91.6%) exhibited relatively greater diagnostic specificity than PCT (88.4%) and CRP (69.5%). EC-Metrnl

conclusionsThis pilot study demonstrates that METRNL is a novel potential biomarker for sepsis with diagnostic capability comparable to that of PCT. Serum METRNL rapidly increased during the early phase of sepsis. Mechanistically, it mainly originates from the endothelium during sepsis, and TLR4-ERK signaling mediates the rapid secretion of METRNL via the classical ER-Golgi pathway in response to LPS stimulation.

Indexed as

BiomarkerEndoplasmic reticulumEndotheliumGolgiMETRNLSepsisToll-like receptor 4

Identifiers

PMID40205457
PMCPMC11983927

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