Volume 29, Issue 160, June 2025

Irisin – A Multifunctional Myokine with Therapeutic Potential in Metabolic, Cardiovascular, Neurodegenerative, and Musculoskeletal Diseases

Dominika Kuc^1♦, Katarzyna Cierpiszewska², Aleksandra Garczyk³, Jakub Klamecki⁴, Dagmara Skowrońska^5,6

¹Provincial Hospital in Poznan, ul. Juraszów 7/19, 60-479, Poznan, Poland
²Independent Public Health Care, ul. Sukiennicza 13, 64-500, Szamotuły, Poland
³Multispecialist Municipal Hospital, Szwajcarska 3, 61-285, Poznan, Poland
⁴Independent Public Health Care, ul. Józefa Ignacego Kraszewskiego 11, 62-040 Puszczykowo, Poland
⁵Department of Teaching Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-861 Poznan, Poland
⁶University Clinical Hospital in Poznan, Grunwaldzka 55, 60-352 Poznan, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Dominika Kuc, Provincial Hospital in Poznan, ul. Juraszów 7/19, 60-479, Poznan, Poland

ABSTRACT

The problem of metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and musculoskeletal diseases is incredibly significant these days due to their high occurrence rate among people globally. Irisin is one of the myokines that has become relevant for multiple physiological roles and has therapeutic potential in different diseases. It increases thermogenesis and improves glucose metabolism by converting white into beige fat tissue. Patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes demonstrate decreased levels of irisin, suggesting a connection to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. Irisin shows promising therapeutic properties for diabetes complications due to its protective effects on vascular endothelial cells and kidney function. Additionally, this myokine is vital in neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), by reducing amyloid- β accumulation, supporting synaptic plasticity, and limiting oxidative stress and inflammation. In the cardiovascular system, irisin protects the heart muscle by improving mitochondrial function, reducing infarct size, and regulating the activity of the vagus nerve. Scientists proved that irisin is important for the musculoskeletal system by stimulating muscle growth and regeneration, preventing atrophy, and supporting bone remodeling via osteoblast activation and osteoclast differentiation. In this review, we discuss the role of irisin as a myokine with significant therapeutic potential in metabolic, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Keywords: irisin, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, musculoskeletal

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e80ms3564

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i160.e80ms3564

Published: 09 June 2025