A new hormone is discovered that is produced in muscles under physical stress
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Scientists from the Cancer Institute of Dana Farbera said that they isolated a previously unknown hormone that was found in muscle cells. They are confident that this protein acts as a chemical mediator of triggering many key processes in the body during exercise.
The authors of the study Bruce Shpigelman and Pontsky Bostroi said: "We were delighted when we discovered a natural substance that is produced during exercise and has a clear therapeutic potential."
The hormone, which Shpigelman called "Irisin" (irisin), can open the door for the treatment of people with diabetes, obesity and possibly other diseases, including cancer. Scientists are only beginning to understand how physical exercises have positive changes in the physiological processes in the body, and further research will allow using these mechanisms in the fight against diseases.
Shpigelman said: "We knew that physical exercises affect all tissues of the body ... But there was a question, how?"
One of the most powerful effects of irisin is the conversion of white fat cells into brown fat, which is considered the best type of fat. Irisin also improves glucose tolerance, which is a key indicator of the state of metabolism. Tests were conducted on mice, but scientists are sure that the data of observations can be translated into human physiology.
The team Shpigelman found the hormone irisin, looking for genes and proteins, which are regulated by the substance PGC1-alpha. In previous studies, they found that PGC1-alpha is activated by exercise.
Pontsky Bostroi said that the search for molecular reasons for increasing the activity of PGC1-alpha ultimately settled on irisin, which, as it turned out, is located on the outer membrane of muscle cells. This discovery contradicted the general opinion of scientists who previously believed that the protein was in the nucleus of the cell.
To test the relationship between physical stress and the increase in the hormone of irisin, the scientists injected a hormone to mice that were obese and were in a state of pre-diabetes. After 10 days of treatment, the scientists saw that the mice had improved blood sugar and insulin, effectively preventing the development of diabetes. They also lost a small amount of weight. Although weight loss was small, Shpigelman says that the hormone will have a greater effect if the treatment lasted longer. In addition, irisin was not toxic, as the scientists confined themselves to levels of the hormone commensurate with levels when exercising.
However, taking irisin supplements, you will not increase muscle mass, as increasing the hormone level will be evident only after a regular and prolonged exercise.
Shpigelman said that the emergence of drugs based on irisin can be expected in the next two years. They can have a significant impact on the treatment of a number of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease.
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