Irisin and musculoskeletal health
Abstract
Irisin is a hormone‐like myokine produced in abundance by skeletal muscle in response to exercise, both in mice and humans. Once released into the circulation, irisin acts on white adipocytes to induce the browning response and subsequently activates nonshivering thermogenesis. We have examined the premise that irisin produced during exercise may subserve further functions in the musculoskeletal system. We review evidence for its possible skeletal effects, including the central role that irisin plays in the control of bone mass, with positive effects on cortical mineral density and geometry in mice. We also review the autocrine effects of irisin in skeletal muscle, in which it upregulates the expression of its precursor (FNDC5). Since loss of bone and muscle mass occurs with aging, immobility, and several metabolic diseases, future studies exploring the efficacy of irisin in restoring bone and reversing muscle wasting could be important to establishing irisin as a molecule that combines beneficial effects for treating osteoporosis and muscular atrophy. If the results from mice were confirmed in human studies, an irisin‐based therapy could be developed for physically disabled or bedridden patients.
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The increase in myostatin and decrease in irisin are tightly associated with poor browning reaction of white fat, reducing energy expenditure, triggering fat gain.
“At the same time, the increase in myostatin and decrease in irisin are tightly associated with poor browning reaction of white fat, reducing energy expenditure, triggering fat gain (45).”
From Diabetes and Sarcopenic Obesity: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatments (2020) · cites this paper as [45]
The reduction of IGF-1 is accompanied by the downregulation of irisin, and high level of free fatty acids in obese people inhibits both IGF-1 and growth hormone, which lowers the mass and strength of muscle, leading to muscle impairment and thus to sarcopenic obesity.
“The reduction of IGF-1 is accompanied by the downregulation of irisin (45), and high level of free fatty acids in obese people inhibits both IGF-1 and growth hormone (48), which lowers the mass and strength of muscle, leading to muscle impairment and thus to SO (49).”
From Diabetes and Sarcopenic Obesity: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatments (2020) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- Colaianni, G., Cinti, S., Colucci, S., & Grano, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Center of Obesity, United Hospitals University of Ancona Ancona Italy
- Corresponding author
- Grano, Maria
- Venue
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-04-24
- Volume
- 1402
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-9
- ISSN
- 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
- 1749-6632
- OpenAlex
- W2609531709
- Cited by
- 158
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 4.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Università Politecnica delle Marche (Università Politecnica delle Marche) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bone Metabolism and Diseases
- Keywords
- irisin, myokines, skeletal muscle, bone mass, cortical bone mineral density, FNDC5, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, non-shivering thermogenesis, adipocyte browning, physical activity, aging, immobility
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Bone and Bones, Adipose Tissue, Brown, Fibronectins, Humans, Musculoskeletal System, Osteogenesis, Muscle Development
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