Serum Metrnl is associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease

Meteorin‐like (Metrnl) is a novel adipokine that is highly expressed in white adipose tissue. Metrnl stimulates energy expenditure and improves glucose tolerance in rodents. However, whether Metrnl plays a role in coronary artery disease (CAD) remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the association of serum Metrnl with CAD in Chinese patients. A total of 193 patients with CAD and 156 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum Metrnl concentration was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Anthropometric phenotypes, fasting glucose, serum lipids, and inflammatory cytokines were measured. Serum Metrnl was lower in CAD patients when compared to those controls (132.41 vs 173.17 pg/mL, P < 0.001). Serum Metrnl was negatively correlated with metabolic parameters, including body mass index, total cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as inflammatory markers including high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, IL‐1β, and IL‐11 even after adjustment for potential confounding variables (P < 0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, compared to those in the highest tertile of serum Metrnl levels, subjects in the lowest tertile had the highest risks for CAD (adjusted OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.46‐4.27, P = 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounding variables, serum Metrnl was also decreased as the number of stenosed vessels increased (P < 0.001). Furthermore, decreased Metrnl level was negatively correlated with the severity of CAD quantified by the Gensini score. This first case‐control study shows significant associations of serum Metrnl with the presence and severity of CAD, suggesting Metrnl might be a new promising therapeutic target for CAD.