Irisin reprograms microglia through activation of STAT6 and prevents cognitive dysfunction after surgery in mice
Jiaxin Wang, Shuaixin Gao, Su Fu, Yawei Li, Li Su, Xiaoman Li, Guanghao Wu, Jiankuo Jiang, Zifang Zhao, Chaojuan Yang, Xiaoyi Wang, Kun Cui, Xiaoyan Sun, Xuetao Qi, Cheng Wang, Haojie Sun, Shan Shao, Yue Tian, Tingting Gong, Jianyuan Luo, Jie Zheng, Shuang Cui, Feifei Liao, Feng‐Yuan Liu, Dong‐Xin Wang, Catherine C. L. Wong, Ming Yi, You Wan
Abstract
• Preoperative serum irisin levels are lower in dementia patients aged over 70 years. • Loss of irisin results in neuroimmune dysfunction. • Irisin reprograms microglia via STAT6 to achieve phenotypic balance. • Irisin modulates immune homeostasis to maintain normal neuron function. • Irisin mimics exercise to prevent surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is common in the aged population and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Irisin, an endogenous molecule that mediates the beneficial effects of exercise, has shown neuroprotective potential in several models of neurological diseases. Here we show that preoperative serum level of irisin is reduced in dementia patients over the age of 70. Comprehensive proteomics analysis reveals that deletion of irisin affects the nervous and immune systems, and reduces the expression of complement proteins. Systemically administered irisin penetrates the blood–brain barrier in mice, targets the microglial integrin αVβ5 receptor, activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), induces microglia reprogramming to the M2 phenotype, and improves immune microenvironment in LPS-induced neuroinflammatory mice. Finally, prophylactic administration of irisin prevents POCD-like behavior, particularly early cognitive dysfunction. Our findings provide new insights into the direct regulation of the immune microenvironment by irisin, and reveal that recombinant irisin holds great promise as a novel therapy for preventing POCD and other neuroinflammatory disorders. Our findings reveal molecular and cellular mechanisms of irisin on neuroinflammation, and show that prophylactic administration of irisin prevents POCD-like behavior, particularly early cognitive dysfunction.