title: METEORIN-LIKE is a cytokine associated with barrier tissues and alternatively activated macrophages.
abstract: Cytokines are involved in many functions of the immune system including initiating, amplifying and resolving immune responses. Through bioinformatics analyses of a comprehensive database of gene expression (BIGE: Body Index of Gene Expression) we observed that a small secreted protein encoded by a poorly characterized gene called meteorin-like (METRNL), is highly expressed in mucosal tissues, skin and activated macrophages. Further studies indicate that Metrnl is produced by Alternatively Activated Macrophages (AAM) and M-CSF cultured bone marrow macrophages (M2-like macrophages). In the skin, METRNL is expressed by resting fibroblasts and IFNγ-treated keratinocytes. A screen of human skin-associated diseases showed significant over-expression of METRNL in psoriasis, prurigo nodularis, actinic keratosis and atopic dermatitis. METRNL is also up-regulated in synovial membranes of human rheumatoid arthritis. Taken together, these results indicate that Metrnl represents a novel cytokine, which is likely involved in both innate and acquired immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ushach
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hevezi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter Arne
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina Alexandra
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Buhren
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schrumpf
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Present address: Laboratory of Immunology and Proteomics, Children's Hospital of Mexico, Mexico, D.F. 06720, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valle-Rios
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Monica I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Homey
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: azlotnik@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zlotnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000378:metabolism; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011536:Prurigo / Q000378:metabolism; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C570859:cometin protein, mouse
keywords: Cytokine; M2 macrophages; Meteorin-like; Psoriasis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Skin