Irisin is present in α cells and decreases islet blood flow

• Irisin is a myokine involved in glucose homeostasis, and is primarily expressed in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue but also in multiple tissues, among them, the pancreas. We aimed to elucidate the cell-specific expression and secretion of irisin, as well as the effect of irisin, in the pancreas. Irisin was observed to be expressed predominantly in α cells, and perifusion of human islets with glucose demonstrated that irisin was secreted in a glucose-dependent manner. Intravenous infusion of irisin in Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in a nearly 50% reduction of islet blood flow compared to control. However, neither irisin nor an irisin neutralizing antibody affected insulin secretion from rat or human islets in vitro. We conclude that irisin has a novel role in pancreatic islet physiology, being secreted by α cells in response to glucose, i.e. in an inverse manner to glucagon, and exerting local vascular effects diminishing islet blood flow while not affecting insulin secretion per se.  

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

pancreatic islets

blood flow

vascular

α cells

Medical Cell Biology

Medicinsk cellbiologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)