Exercise-Induced Irisin Secretion Is Independent of Age or Fitness Level and Increased Irisin May Directly Modulate Muscle Metabolism Through AMPK Activation

Context: Irisin has been proposed to be a myokine mediating the effect of exercise on adipocyte browning. The physiology of irisin in humans is not completely understood. Objective: To study the physiology of irisin in healthy individuals with different age and fitness levels and to explore the direct effects of irisin on muscle metabolism. Design, Setting, and Subjects: Treadmill exercise studies were conducted to measure circulating irisin at baseline and in response to exercise among old and young, physically active and sedentary individuals. Also, high- and moderate-intensity swimming was performed in adolescent men and women to study the effect of exercise intensity and the time course of irisin induction by acute bouts of exercise. Human myotubes were treated with recombinant irisin, and the effect on gene expression, cell signaling, and metabolism was examined. Results: Baseline circulating irisin was lower in old (vs young) and physically active (vs sedentary) subjects. Despite differences in basa...