Irisin modulates bone marrow derived macrophage polarization towards M2 profile in high fat fed mice

Abstract

Background and Aims: The chronic inflammatory process in the adipose tissue during obesity suggests constant polarization of classically activated macrophages (M1) and low polarization of alternately activated ones (M2). Since irisin has anti-inflammatory and antidiabetogenic properties our aim is to evaluate its effects on macrophage polarization in mice subjected to high fat diet. Methods and Results: C57Bl/6 mice were fed a high fat diet for 30 weeks. Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) were isolated and incubated with 50 nM of irisin. Cellular phenotype, nitrite production, arginase-1 expression and cell viability were analyzed. Irisin was able to increase F480+CD206+ and F480+CD301+ cell number, and arginase1 expression. Irisin was not able to induce nitrite production and did not affect cell viability. Conclusion: Irisin was able to elicit an M2-like profile in macrophages in mice subjected to high fat diet, suggesting an anti-inflammatory action of this cytokine with potential therapeutic use in the control of imflammation during obesity.