Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (18): 3897-3905.doi: 10.12307/2025.668

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Irisin: a new link between exercise, disease and health

Dong Zhengqin, Zheng Qi, Wu Guanmao, Wang Wenna, Chen Leqin   

  1. Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China
  • Received:2024-07-18 Accepted:2024-08-31 Online:2025-06-28 Published:2024-11-29
  • Contact: Chen Leqin, Professor, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China
  • About author:Dong Zhengqin, MS, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, Shanxi Province, China

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Irisin plays a crucial role in the physiological regulation of the body, advancing the browning process of white adipose tissue cells and exerting significant effects on the regulation of energy metabolism, thermogenesis, reduction of oxidative stress, and body mass loss.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the latest research progress in irisin and related diseases.
METHODS: A computerized search of PubMed, MedReading, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP was performed to collect studies on the effect of irisin on relevant diseases. The search time was from January 1, 2011 to April 13, 2024. The search terms were “irisin, physical exercise, FNDC5, disease” in Chinese and English. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 71 papers were finally included for review.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Irisin has important roles in anti-inflammation, fat metabolism, bone metabolism, brain health, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Moreover, exercise can promote the expression of irisin, and different forms of exercises have different effects on irisin levels. Acute exercise, long-term exercise, resistance exercise and high-intensity exercise can all enhance irisin levels. The discovery of irisin provides a new potential basis for exercise therapy, which is a promising therapeutic target due to the multiple biological functions of irisin, and shows potential therapeutic value in the treatment of human metabolic diseases and their complications, obesity, and cancer. Irisin has a promising application as a potential target for the treatment of obesity, cognitive function, cardiovascular, cancer and other diseases in clinical practice. However, its specific mechanism of action still needs to be studied in depth, and there may be side effects. In the future, an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of irisin is needed to provide a more adequate basis for the treatment of obesity, cognitive dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程

Key words: irisin, exercise, disease, mechanism of action, therapeutic target, engineered tissue construction

CLC Number: