Since its discovery, much attention has been drawn to irisin's potential role in metabolic and reproductive diseases. This narrative review summarizes and updates the possible role played by this fascinating molecule in different physiological (puberty and menopause) and pathological (polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA), endometriosis, and gestational diabetes) conditions that can affect women throughout their entire lives. Irisin appears to be an important factor for the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activation, and appears to play a role in the timing of puberty onset. Serum irisin levels have been proposed as a biomarker for predicting the future development of gestational diabetes (GDM). Its role in PCOS is still controversial, although an "irisin resistance" mechanism has been hypothesized. In addition to its impact on metabolism, irisin also appears to influence bone health. Irisin levels are inversely correlated with the prevalence of fractures in postmenopausal women. Similar mechanisms have also been postulated in young women with FHA. In clinical settings, further controlled, prospective and randomized clinical trials are needed to investigate the casual relationship between irisin levels and the conditions described and, in turn, to establish the role of irisin as a prognostic/diagnostic biomarker or a therapeutic target.
Keywords: HPG axis; bone health; functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA); gestational diabetes (GDM); irisin; menopause; metabolism; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); reproduction.