Irisin levels in the progression of diabetes in sedentary women

Irisin in thyroid diseases

Irisin, a hormone-like adipo-myokine, has garnered considerable attention in recent years for its potential impact in metabolic diseases. Its physiological effects are similar to those of thyroid hormones, prompting numerous investigations into potential correlations and interactions between irisin and thyroid function through various in vitro and animal experiments. However, existing studies suggest that the relationship between irisin and thyroid diseases is highly complex and multifaceted. In this paper, we have summarized the research results on serum irisin and thyroid function, providing an overview of advancements and constraints in current research on irisin and thyroid hormones. The aim is to offer insights and directions for future clinical trials in this field.

Therapeutic role of FNDC5/irisin in attenuating liver fibrosis via inhibiting release of hepatic stellate cell-derived exosomes

OBJECTIVE

Cleavage of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), a membrane-bound precursor protein, would cleave into a myokine, irisin, which is also expressed in the liver. FNDC5/Irisin has been reported to play a critical role in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis in the liver and in combating liver fibrosis. Recently, several studies have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) could modulate liver fibrosis; however, there is a large gap in understanding whether inhibition of fibrogenic EVs derived from HSCs could alleviate the progression of liver fibrosis. Here, we investigated the role of FNDC5/irisin in liver fibrosis and the mechanism of its inhibitory role in the release of HSC-derived fibrogenic EVs.

METHODS

Experiments were performed in wild-type and FNDC5-/- mice, primary mouse HSCs, and human hepatic stellate cell line (LX2). Mice were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce liver fibrosis. EVs derived from HSCs were purified and injected intraperitoneally into mice.

RESULTS

Our results showed that FNDC5 deficiency exacerbated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and activation of HSCs in mice. Moreover, fibrogenic EVs derived from PDGF-BB-treated HSCs promoted HSC migration in vitro and liver fibrosis in vivo. However, administration of irisin, a cleavage of FNDC5, inhibited the release of fibrogenic EVs and activation of HSCs by promoting ubiquitylation degradation of Rab27b. In vivo, the promoting role of HSC-derived fibrogenic EVs in liver fibrosis was also reversed by irisin.

CONCLUSION

All these results demonstrate that FNDC5/irisin is a novel therapeutic agent for chronic liver fibrosis.

Association between Serum Irisin and Leptin Levels and Risk of Depressive Symptoms in the Diabetic Elderly Population

BACKGROUND

Adipokines are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes and depression. The associations of serum levels of leptin and irisin with depressive symptoms were investigated in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

189 elderly diabetics were assessed with the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30), and 57 patients with depressive symptoms and 132 controls were selected. Blood biochemical parameters, including serum irisin and leptin, were measured.

RESULTS

Serum irisin levels were decreased and leptin concentrations were significantly higher in T2DM patients with depressive symptoms compared to controls. In all subjects, the irisin level was inversely correlated with the leptin level and the GDS-30 score, whereas the leptin level was highly correlated with BMI and the GDS-30 score. Higher levels of leptin and lower concentrations of irisin are, among other factors, variables indicative of predictive capacity for depressive symptoms in elderly patients with T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that irisin and leptin levels may be used as diagnostic markers of depressive symptoms in diabetic, elderly patients and as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment. Further prospective and more extensive studies are needed to clarify the role of these adipokines in the common pathogenesis of depression and diabetes.

Association between irisin and metabolic parameters in nondiabetic, nonobese adults: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Irisin has been proposed to have a beneficial influence on the metabolic status of animals and humans. However, the relationship between circulating irisin levels and the risks of metabolic components in humans remains unclear. In the present meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the association between circulating irisin and metabolic parameters in nonobese, nondiabetic adults.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and ClinicalTrial.gov using the main search terms and identified original articles published prior to March 7, 2022. Studies that met our inclusion criteria and reported the association between irisin and metabolic parameters were included in our meta-analysis. We used the Newcastle Ottawa scale to assess the quality of the included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 14 studies (711 subjects) in 11 articles were included for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The pooled results showed that circulating irisin was positively and significantly correlated with fasting blood glucose (r = 0.159), HOMA-IR (r = 0.217) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.168). However, no significant association was detected between irisin levels and other metabolic parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, these findings indicated the possible link between irisin levels and part of the metabolic parameters in apparently metabolically normal individuals. However, the regulation of irisin in metabolism in humans remains to be fully elucidated, and well-designed prospective studies will be needed in the future. Trial registration The review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42022315269.

Association between plasma irisin in pregnancy and postpartum glucose levels among Chinese women: A cohort study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The association between plasma irisin and glucose levels in the general population is controversial, and few studies have longitudinally detected this correlation. We aimed to examine whether irisin in pregnancy was associated with postpartum glucose levels among Chinese women and explore the modifiable factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a prospective cohort study in Guangzhou, China, during 2017 and 2018, and 453 pregnant women (20-28 weeks) were enrolled. Plasma irisin levels in pregnancy were tested. At 6-8 weeks after delivery, 93 women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and the other 360 women had a fasting blood glucose (FBG) test. Multivariable linear, quantile and logistic regressions were carried out.

RESULTS

The mean plasma irisin in mid-pregnancy was 13.73 ng/mL. We observed a significantly negative association between mid-pregnancy irisin and postpartum FBG (β: -0.056 ± 0.024). However, quantile regression showed the association was only significant in high percentiles of FBG levels (P50 to P95 ), and the magnitude showed an increasing trend. Higher baseline irisin was also associated with a lower risk of postpartum impaired fasting glucose (relative risk 0.563, 95% confidence interval 0.384-0.825). Furthermore, we found significant interactions between irisin and predominant breast-feeding on FBG and impaired fasting glucose (both Pinteraction  < 0.05). In women with GDM, baseline irisin was non-significantly associated with postpartum postprandial 2-h glucose levels (β: -0.305 ± 0.160, P = 0.061).

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma irisin levels in mid-pregnancy were negatively associated with FBG levels and impaired fasting glucose at 6-8 weeks postpartum among Chinese women, and stronger associations were observed in women with higher FBG values. Furthermore, breast-feeding might modify this relationship.

Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases: a promising biomarker and therapeutic target

Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide and impose a tremendous socioeconomic burden on individuals as well as the healthcare system. Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) is a widely distributed transmembrane glycoprotein that can be proteolytically cleaved and secreted as irisin to regulate glycolipid metabolism and cardiovascular homeostasis. In this review, we present the current knowledge on the predictive and therapeutic role of FNDC5 in a variety of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, metabolic cardiomyopathy, cardiac remodeling, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and obesity.

Irisin in atherosclerosis

Irisin, a novel exercise-induced myokine, has been shown to play important roles in increasing white adipose tissue browning, regulating energy metabolism and improving insulin resistance. Growing evidence suggests a direct role for irisin in preventing atherosclerosis (AS) by inhibiting oxidative stress, improving dyslipidemia, facilitating anti-inflammation, reducing cellular damage and recovering endothelial function. In addition, some studies have noted that serum irisin levels play an essential role in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk prediction, highlighting that irisin has the potential to be a useful predictive marker and therapeutic target of AS, especially in monitoring therapeutic efficacy. This review summarizes the understanding of irisin-mediated regulation in essential biological pathways and functions in atherosclerosis and prompts further exploitation of the biological properties of irisin in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Lower levels of irisin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis

AIMS

This study aimed to provide evidence on the levels of circulating irisin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the irisin levels in patients with T2DM with the levels in control patients. PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL databases, and other sources were searched from inception through September 2020. Review manager software version 5.4 was used to calculate the pooled outcomes. Heterogeneity was measured using I² statistics.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies involving 3667 participants met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this study. We found that irisin levels were significantly lower in patients with T2DM [Standard (Std.) Mean Difference, -1.02; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), -1.37 to -0.67; p < 0.00001]. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this result (Std. Mean Difference, -0.56; 95% CI, -0.73 to -0.39; p < 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

As compared to the control group and irrespective of differences in ethnicities, age groups, study designs, blood samples, sample sizes, language used for the study, or ELISA kits, lower levels of irisin were observed in patients with T2DM.

Irisin and Autophagy: First Update

Aging and sedentary life style are considered independent risk factors for many disorders. Under these conditions, accumulation of dysfunctional and damaged cellular proteins and organelles occurs, resulting in a cellular degeneration and cell death. Autophagy is a conserved recycling pathway responsible for the degradation, then turnover of cellular proteins and organelles. This process is a part of the molecular underpinnings by which exercise promotes healthy aging and mitigate age-related pathologies. Irisin is a myokine released during physical activity and acts as a link between muscles and other tissues and organs. Its main beneficial function is the change of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue, with a consequential increase in thermogenesis. Irisin modulates metabolic processes, acting on glucose homeostasis, reduces systemic inflammation, maintains the balance between resorption and bone formation, and regulates the functioning of the nervous system. Recently, some of its pleiotropic and favorable properties have been attributed to autophagy induction, posing irisin as an important regulator of autophagy by exercise. This review article proposes to bring together for the first time the "state of the art" knowledge regarding the effects of irisin and autophagy. Furthermore, treatments on relation between exercise/myokines and autophagy have been also achieved.

Serum Irisin Levels, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Inflammation in Pediatric Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased in the pediatric population. Irisin, an adipomyokine, is involved in white adipose tissue browning, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity, and anti-inflammatory pathways. Data on the associations among circulating irisin levels, soluble cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs), and inflammatory cytokines is scarce in children and adolescents with MetS and T2DM. Subjects aged 6-16 years were grouped into T2DM, MetS, and healthy controls. Serum irisin levels were significantly lower in the MetS (6.6 [2.8-18.0] ng/mL) and T2DM (6.8 [2.2-23.2] ng/mL) groups compared with controls (30.3 [24.6-57.1] ng/mL). Negative correlations between irisin and the BMI percentile (R = -0.358), WC percentile (R = -0.308), and triglycerides (R = -0.284) were identified, while positive associations with TC (R = 0.287), HDL-c (R = 0.488), and LDL-c (R = 0.414) were observed. Significant negative correlations were found between irisin and sNCAM (R = -0.382), sICAM-2 (R = -0.300), sVCAM-1 (R = -0.292), MCP-1 (R = -0.308), and IFN-α2 (R = -0.406). Of note, lower concentrations of most sCAMs (sICAM-1, sPSGL-1, sP-selectin, sEpCAM, sICAM-2, sALCAM, sPECAM-1, sCD44, sVCAM-1, sICAM-3, sL-selectin, and sNCAM) were shown in T2DM subjects compared with MetS patients. Lower irisin levels induce a lack of inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. In T2DM, higher ROS, AGEs, glucotoxicity, and inflammation trigger endothelial cell apoptosis, which downregulates the sCAM expression as a compensatory mechanism to prevent further vascular damage. In opposition, in subjects with MetS that have not yet developed T2DM and its accompanying stressors, the upregulation of the sCAM expression is ensued.

Association of Circulating Irisin Levels with Adiposity and Glucose Metabolic Profiles in a Middle-Aged Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The myokine irisin has been proposed to affect obesity and metabolism disorders. However, data about the association of irisin with obesity and glucose metabolic status in humans remains controversial, and limited data are available concerning the Chinese population. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum irisin concentrations and obesity, as well as glucose metabolic and cardiovascular factors in the middle-aged physical activity-matched Chinese Han race population.

METHODS

A total of 740 participants were included in this cross-sectional study, who were divided into a normal weight (NW) group, overweight/obese (OB) group, normal weight type 2 diabetes (DM-NW) group and overweight/obese diabetes (DM-OB) group, and physical activity was evaluated and matched for the four groups. Circulating irisin levels were analyzed and compared among the groups with different adiposity and glucose status. Linear regression analysis was performed to test the relationship between serum irisin and adiposity indices, glucose metabolic and other cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS

Circulating irisin levels were significantly correlated with higher levels of direct and indirect adiposity markers, including BMI, waist circumference and fat mass, and other cardiovascular risk factors, such as plasma triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (p < 0.01). Diabetes patients had lower irisin levels compared to non-diabetes participants, in either normal weight and obese group, resulting in a correlation of irisin with HbA1c, HOMA-IR and HOMA-IS (p < 0.01). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that irisin serum concentrations were independently associated with sex, BMI, HbA1c, HOMA-IR and HOMA-IS (R² = 0.465).

CONCLUSION

These data indicated that circulating irisin was affected by adiposity and glucose metabolism condition in the middle-aged Chinese population. The increase of irisin under conditions of obesity may indicate its physiological function to improve glucose tolerance which is often impaired in obese subjects, but this compensatory secretion of irisin seems likely to be progressing to a secretion failure once diabetes developed.

Characterization of serum irisin in patients with severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Irisin, as a novel and versatile hormone secreted by skeletal myocytes and fat tissues, is reported to be involved in inflammation-related diseases; one of the main characteristics of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is inflammatory responses. This study aims to describe the characteristics of irisin in SAP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Here, we enrolled 50 controls, 20 with no acute pancreatitis (AP), 20 AP, and 12 SAP patients, determined white blood cell, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, urine amylase, blood lipase, and serum irisin using an analyzer and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at the indicated time-points, analyzed the correlations of irisin with blood glucose, sex, and age, and then predicted the morality and complications of organ failure and/or exacerbations of comorbidities in SAP by irisin.

RESULTS

The results showed no significant difference in all groups in the clinical parameters (P>0.05), except that white blood cell was significantly higher in no AP, AP, and SAP than the controls (P<0.05). In addition, irisin levels were significantly lower and maintained a steadily low trend in the process of SAP than others (P<0.05), whereas C-reactive protein, urine amylase, and blood lipase in the SAP and AP groups were higher than others and kept decreasing tendency (P<0.01). Moreover, the irisin level in female SAP patients was significantly higher than that in male patients, but no differences were found in the other groups (P>0.05). In addition, the correlation between irisin levels and blood glucose was better in the SAP group than that between irisin levels and age in SAP patients and controls, although a relatively better correlation was found in SAP patients than the controls. Finally, the prognostic significance of mortality and complications of SAP according to irisin levels represented significantly, especially for complications of organ failure and/or exacerbations of comorbidities in female SAP.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, serum irisin level has unique characteristics and may be an independent factor and useful to predict the mortality, and complications in SAP patients, especially in female SAP patients.

The serum level of irisin, but not asprosin, is abnormal in polycystic ovary syndrome patients

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligo- or anovulation, and/or polycystic ovary. It frequently presents with dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Recent studies have shown that the white adipose tissue-derived asprosin is elevated in humans with insulin resistance. Because many PCOS patients have a propensity to develop dyslipidemia and/or insulin resistance, asprosin metabolism could be dysregulated in PCOS patients. Accordingly, we investigated serum levels of asprosin, irisin, GIP, androgens, LH, glucose, insulin, and lipids as well as HOMA-IR, QUICKI and ISI _Matsuda in a cohort of 444 PCOS patients and 156 controls. Patients were stratified based on metabolic syndrome risk factors (ATPIII [+] and [-] groups), or BMI (overweight and lean groups). The irisin level was significantly correlated with body weight, SBP, DBP, Ferriman-Gallwey score, and levels of TSH, triglycerides, glucose and insulin in the overall population, and was elevated in ATPIII(+) and overweight PCOS patients compared to corresponding controls. By contrast, asprosin levels in PCOS, ATPIII(+), or overweight patients were similar to those of corresponding controls. This finding indicated that the regulation of irisin, but not asprosin, metabolism is abnormal in PCOS patients, and this metabolic characteristic is distinctly different from that of diabetes patients.

Role of irisin in Chinese patients with hypothyroidism: an interventional study

Objective

Irisin is a myokine that greatly affects energy expenditure and systemic metabolism. While thyroid hormone is likely associated with irisin, a direct relationship remains to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate plasma irisin levels in Chinese patients with hypothyroidism.

Methods

A total of 155 subjects were divided into the hypothyroidism group or the control group. Fifty-seven patients in the hypothyroidism group received levothyroxine treatment. Baseline irisin levels were measured in the two groups and post-treatment levels were measured in the hypothyroidism group.

Results

Irisin levels were significantly lower in the hypothyroidism group than in the control group. In the hypothyroidism group, irisin levels were positively associated with free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels, and negatively associated with thyrotropin levels. In the hypothyroidism group, irisin levels were significantly increased after levothyroxine treatment. Multiple linear regression models showed that total cholesterol and free thyroxine levels were the only significant predictors of serum irisin levels.

Conclusions

Irisin levels are decreased in patients with hypothyroidism. Our results suggest that decreased irisin levels are directly associated with reduced thyroid hormone levels. These values may be restored after levothyroxine treatment in Chinese patients with hypothyroidism.

Irisin in metabolic diseases

INTRODUCTION

Irisin is a myokine/adipokine induced by the exercise in mice and humans, which is proposed to induce "browning" of white adipose tissue, its primary target, thus increasing thermogenesis and energy expenditure. Since its identification, irisin has been linked to favorable effects on metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease (CVD), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and metabolic bone diseases. Generally, despite the promising profile of irisin in rodents, its effects on human are less recognized.

REVIEW

Most, but not all studies show a positive association between irisin and indices of adiposity. In T2DM, NAFLD, and CVD, most observational studies reported lower irisin levels in patients than controls. Regarding metabolic bone diseases, irisin is positively associated with bone mineral density and strength in athletes, and inversely associated with osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal osteoporosis. In PCOS, data remain largely conflicting. Irisin does not seem to be further reduced when two metabolic diseases, e.g., T2DM and NAFLD, or obesity and NAFLD exist though more data are needed. Furthermore, it seems that diverse confounders may have affected the results of different clinical studies.

CONCLUSION

Irisin remains an appealing molecule from a pathophysiological point of view and an appealing therapeutic target for metabolic diseases, albeit much research is still needed.

The relationship between circulating irisin, retinol binding protein-4, adiponectin and inflammatory mediators in patients with metabolic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

We wanted to investigate whether there is a relationship between circulating irisin, retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4), adiponectin and proinflammatory mediators implicated in the development of insulin resistance (IR) in metabolic syndrome (MetS).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In 180 individuals, including controls and patients with MetS, we measured fasting plasma insulin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), interleukin-33 (IL-33), irisin, RBP-4, and adiponectin using ELISA kits.

RESULTS

While fasting plasma hsCRP, PTX-3, IL-33, irisin, RBP-4 concentrations were higher, adiponectin levels were lower in patients with MetS than in controls. A correlation analysis revealed that plasma irisin levels were positively associated with MetS components such as waist circumference and waist-hip ratio, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and markers of systemic inflammation such as PTX-3, hsCRP, uric acid, and RBP-4. Adiponectin levels were negatively associated with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, PTX-3 and LDL.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the precise mechanisms are still unclear, irisin, RBP-4, adiponectin and PTX-3 are hallmarks of the MetS, which is related to low-grade inflammation. It is conceivable that irisin and adiponectin might contribute to the development of MetS and may also represent novel MetS components. Future clinical studies are needed to confirm and extend these data.

Irisin Inhibits Hepatic Cholesterol Synthesis via AMPK-SREBP2 Signaling

Irisin, a myokine released during exercise, promotes browning of subcutaneous adipose tissue and regulates energy homeostasis. Although exercise constantly reduces blood cholesterol, whether irisin is involved in the regulation of cholesterol remains largely unknown. In the present study, subcutaneous infusion of irisin for 2weeks induced a reduction in plasma and hepatic cholesterol in high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. These alterations were associated with an activation of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibition of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 2 (SREBP2) transcription and nuclear translocation. In primary hepatocytes from either lean or DIO mice, irisin significantly decreased cholesterol content via sequential activation of AMPK and inhibition of SREBP2. Suppression of AMPK by compound C or AMPKα1 siRNA blocked irisin-induced alterations in cholesterol contents and SREBP2. In conclusion, irisin could suppress hepatic cholesterol production via a mechanism dependent of AMPK and SREBP2 signaling. These findings suggest that irisin is a promising therapeutic target for treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

The ratio of skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area is a main determinant linking circulating irisin to metabolic phenotype

Background

The aims of this study were to investigate whether circulating irisin is associated with favorable metabolic parameters and how the association differs according to body composition in humans.

Methods

A total of 424 subjects (233 men and 191 women), aged 23–73 years (mean age 47.1 years), were enrolled from the Seoul Metro City Diabetes Prevention Program. Body composition was determined using an impedance body composition analyzer, and serum irisin level was measured using a commercial kit.

Results

Serum irisin was correlated with favorable metabolic parameters including less obese, lower blood pressure and glucose levels and healthy lipid parameters. The skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio (SVR) was positively correlated with the serum irisin concentration (r = 0.10, P = 0.04). When the study subjects were divided into tertiles according to their SVR, serum irisin was correlated with favorable metabolic phenotypes in those subjects in the upper tertile. However, there were no such correlations in the lower tertile. In addition, serum irisin was inversely related to pre-diabetes/type 2 diabetes (T2D) independent of other risk factor for T2D and insulin resistance [OR (95 % CI); 0.66 (0.49–0.90), P = 0.009].

Conclusions

The compositions of skeletal muscle and visceral fat play key roles in the association between circulating irisin and a patient’s metabolic phenotype.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-015-0319-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.