Physical activity exerts multiple beneficial effects and the myokine concept provides a framework for understanding the molecular pathways that integrate contracting muscle in the complex network of organ communication. This network includes multiple distinct and distal organs; however, the autocrine and paracrine effects of myokines within skeletal muscle (in which they are produced) also need specific attention. In humans, the functional allocation of myokines remains limited and recent findings on fibre type-specific myokine signatures point to an additional level of complexity. Myokines are involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of physical activity and, therefore, critically counteract insulin resistance and the metabolic perturbations of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Future work needs to address the role of myokines in concert with other crosstalk molecules, and to define their specific impact for metabolic homeostasis.
Keywords: Diabetes; Exercise; Metabolic homeostasis; Myokines; Organ crosstalk; Physical activity; Review.