Meteorin (METRN)

Meteorin regulates glial cell differentiation and promotes the formation of axonal networks during neurogenesis . The deduced 290-amino acid protein shares 82% amino acid identity with the 293-amino acid human ortholog. Both human and mouse meteorin contain a putative N-terminal signal peptide. Immunoblot analysis of cell fractions from Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing mouse meteorin localized meteorin to the lysate and culture supernatant, suggesting that meteorin is secreted. In situ hybridization of developing mouse tissues showed predominant meteorin expression in the central and peripheral nervous system in neural progenitors, glial progenitors, and cells of the astrocyte lineage.Meteorin induction of neurite outgrowth showed an additive effect with neurotrophin-3 (NTF3) but not with NGF (NGFB) or BDNF.