Context: Irisin has been proposed to be a myokine mediating the effect of exercise on adipocyte browning. The physiology of irisin in humans is not completely understood.
Objective: To study the physiology of irisin in healthy individuals with different age and fitness levels and to explore the direct effects of irisin on muscle metabolism.
Design, setting, and subjects: Treadmill exercise studies were conducted to measure circulating irisin at baseline and in response to exercise among old and young, physically active and sedentary individuals. Also, high- and moderate-intensity swimming was performed in adolescent men and women to study the effect of exercise intensity and the time course of irisin induction by acute bouts of exercise. Human myotubes were treated with recombinant irisin, and the effect on gene expression, cell signaling, and metabolism was examined.
Results: Baseline circulating irisin was lower in old (vs young) and physically active (vs sedentary) subjects. Despite differences in basal levels, the percentage increase of irisin by acute bouts of exercise was not related to age or fitness level. The time course study revealed that circulating irisin increased immediately after high-intensity interval exercise and declined 1 hour thereafter. In vitro experiments showed that irisin facilitates glucose and lipid metabolism in human muscle through AMP kinase phosphorylation.
Conclusions: Despite the differences in basal irisin levels, exercise-induced irisin secretion is independent of age or fitness level. Increased irisin can directly modulate muscle metabolism through AMP kinase activation.