Influence of irisin on diet-induced metabolic syndrome in experimental rat model

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the influence of irisin on the experimental paradigm of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) as a part of MetS cluster.

Methods: Forty male albino rats were divided into four groups; normal control, standard diet + irisin, high carbohydrate and fat diet (HCHF), and HCHF + irisin. After the experimental period, levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, lipid profile, kidney functions, salusin-alpha (Sal-α), adropin, and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) were evaluated. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) expression in skeletal muscle was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Aorta, liver, pancreas, and skeletal muscle tissue samples were prepared for histopathological examination.

Results: Rats administrated HCHF showed elevated levels of FBS, lipid profile, kidney functions, RBP-4, and downregulation of PGC-1α expression along with a decline in levels of insulin, Sal-α, and adropin while administration of irisin significantly attenuated these levels.

Conclusions: Irisin as based therapy could emerge as a new line of treatment against MetS and its related diseases.

Keywords: PGC-1α; adropin; irisin; metabolic syndrome; salusin alpha.