Circulating irisin levels are positively associated with endothelium-dependent vasodilation in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients without clinical angiopathy

Abstract Objective Irisin is a newly identified myokine that can promote energy expenditure and alleviate insulin-resistance in animal model. It has been established that insulin resistance is frequently associated with endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we hypothesize that circulating irisin levels are associated with endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. Methods One hundred and eighty eight patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 40 healthy subjects were recruited. Serum irisin concentrations were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was evaluated by using high-resolution ultrasound. Results The mean value of circulating irisin levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes was 13.25 ng/ml, which was significantly lower than that in controls (25.98 ng/ml, p