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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Assessment of Exercise-Stimulated Irisin in Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review
Enzo Shintaku1, Davi Vantini1, João Gabriel Bicudo Ting1
1Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Centro Universitário FMABC, Santo André-Brazil.
Introduction:
Irisin is a hormone synthesized by skeletal muscle cells in response to physical exercise. It has been linked to various health benefits, including improved insulin sensitivity, fat burning, reduced inflammation, and potential protection against metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This review explores the role of irisin, stimulated by physical exercise, in kidney diseases.
Methods:
A comprehensive review was conducted using SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Five articles were selected based on pre-established eligibility criteria. These studies used animal experiments, assessing irisin predominantly through Western blotting or ELISA, with aerobic exercise protocols, mainly treadmill running.
Results:
The results consistently showed an increase in irisin levels in response to physical exercise in animal models with kidney diseases.
Discussion:
Aerobic exercise increased plasma irisin expression, with better outcomes observed with low to medium-intensity training. Irisin demonstrated therapeutic potential by reducing renal cysts, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, decreasing markers of diabetic nephropathy, and restoring autophagy in podocytes. Additionally, it activated the AMPK-Sirt1-PGC-1α pathway, suggesting antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects.
Conclusion:
The studies reviewed suggested that aerobic exercise increased irisin levels in animal models of kidney diseases, showing potential therapeutic effects for renal health.
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