Are circulating levels of the myokine irisin linked to type 2 diabetes? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACTType II diabetes (T2DM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders, and its multisystemic health consequences are widely known. The pathogenesis of T2DM appears to be related to physiological and social factors. Due to skeletal muscle’s ability to sequester a vast amount of glucose, muscle function and exercise have become a subject of much research into strategies to prevent and treat T2DM. Myokines are bioactive molecules released by muscle during contraction and involved in several biological processes such as metabolism, inflammation and behavior. Irisin, a recently discovered myokine, has been implicated in a vast array of physiological roles, including the ability to induce fat beiging. Since beige and brown fat both serve important roles in metabolic regulation, irisin’s role in the context of T2DM is the subject of ongoing investigations. Here we systematically systematic review and perform meta-analysis of the current clinical literature comparing circulating irisin levels in patients affected by T2DM and healthy subjects. Although the data strongly suggest that irisin levels are higher in healthy subjects than in diabetics, the variability in reported irisin concentrations prevents us from drawing a definitive conclusion. Before further research into irisin’s potential role in T2DM pathogenesis is conducted, the efficacy of irisin detection methods in biological samples must be determined.