Mechanisms of irisin attenuates cell apoptosis of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells in high glucose condition

  Background  Previous studies revealed that high glucose could induce bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells apoptosis, and irisin attenuated cell injury resulted from glucotoxicity.

  Objective  To investigate the effects of irisin on cell apoptosis of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in high glucose condition.

  Methods  BMSCs were divided into Vehicle group, HG (high glucose) group, Irisin (HG plus irisin intervention) group, and CC (HG + irisin + Compound C (CC) group. After cultured for 3 days, flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptotic rate, and Western blotting was used to investigate protein level of Bcl-2/Bax and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK).

  Results  Compared with the Vehicle group, apoptotic rate of HG group increased obviously (P＜0.05); while Irisin intervention could reduce apoptotic rate (P＜0.05), increase Bcl-2/Bax expression (P＜0.05), and activate AMPK. However, when inhibiting AMPK, the effects of Irisin on inhibiting cell apoptosis were blunted (P＜0.05).

  Conclusion  Irisin can inhibit cell apoptosis of BMSCs in high glucose condition via activating AMPK.