1. Academic Validation
  2. Irisin exhibits neuroprotection by preventing mitochondrial damage in Parkinson's disease

Irisin exhibits neuroprotection by preventing mitochondrial damage in Parkinson's disease

  • NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2023 Jan 31;9(1):13. doi: 10.1038/s41531-023-00453-9.
Xi Zhang 1 2 3 4 Sutong Xu 1 Yong Hu 4 Qiulu Liu 1 Chenming Liu 1 Huazhen Chai 1 Yuping Luo 1 Lingjing Jin 5 6 Siguang Li 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
  • 2 Department of rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • 3 Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
  • 4 Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
  • 5 Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. lingjingjin@163.com.
  • 6 Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. lingjingjin@163.com.
  • 7 Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. siguangli@163.com.
Abstract

Exercise has been proposed as an effective non-pharmacological management for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Irisin, a recently identified myokine, is increased by exercise and plays pivotal roles in energy metabolism. However, it remains unknown whether irisin has any protective effects on PD. Here, we found that serum irisin levels of PD patients were markedly elevated after 12-week regular exercise, which had a positive correlation with improved balance function scored by Berg Balance Scale. Treatment with exogenous irisin could improve motor function, and reduce dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD models. Meanwhile, irisin could reduce cell Apoptosis by renovating mitochondrial function in PD models, which was reflected in decreased oxidative stress, increased mitochondrial complex I activity and mitochondrial content, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, and repaired mitochondrial morphology. Furthermore, irisin regulated the aforementioned aspects by upregulating downstream Akt signaling pathway and ERK1/2 signaling pathway through Integrin receptors rather than directly targeting mitochondria. With the use of small-molecule inhibitors, it was found that irisin can reduce Apoptosis, restore normal mitochondrial biogenesis, and improve mitochondrial morphology and dynamic balance in PD models by activating Akt signaling pathway and ERK1/2 signaling pathway. And irisin reduced oxidative stress via activating ERK1/2 signaling pathway. The results revealed that exogenous irisin conferred neuroprotection relieving Apoptosis and oxidative stress, restraining mitochondrial fragmentation, and promoting mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis in PD models, and irisin exerted the aforementioned effects by activating Akt signaling pathway and ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Thus, peripherally delivered irisin might be a promising candidate for therapeutic targeting of PD.

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