Two weeks of voluntary wheel running induces higher expression of irisin - a fat-burning hormone that is released during exercise - in bone tissue in mice. In addition, systemic administration of irisin increased bone formation and thickness, mimicking the effects of exercise on the mouse skeletal system. The findings demonstrate a potential new mechanism for the regulation of bone metabolism.
The study was led by scientists from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) and published in Bone Research.
"Our results provide insight into the complex regulatory interplay of muscle, bone and fat tissues. Increased irisin levels in circulation upon systemic administration can recapitulate part of the beneficial effects of exercise in the skeletal system," said senior study author Jake Chen, D.M.D.
