EXERCISE HORMONE LINKED TO REDUCED RISK AND

IMPROVED SURVIVAL RATES

IRISIN

by Robert Hornung

It is common knowledge that exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it keep your body limber, but also has benefits like increased circulation and improved brain function, among others. The body will also reward itself for exercising by releasing dopamine, a feel-good hormone. The release of dopamine associated with activities like exercise and accomplishing one’s goals conditions the body to pursue these positive actions.

While dopamine is one of the more well-known hormones, another hormone has been getting recent press for its potential to be used to treat or prevent

breast cancer: irisin.

IRISIN

Discovered in 2012 by cell biologist Bruce Spiegelman, irisin is a peptide hormone whose production is induced by

exercise. Specifically, it has been known to be produced in muscles after moderate endurance exercise and is involved in the process of converting what’s known as white adipose

tissue (WAT) into brown adipose tissue (BAT), which contains more mitochondria, the energy-factories of a cell.

Scientists have thus inferred that it plays a big role in energy regulation and affects several other routine processes. It also has been shown to stimulate the

growth of neurons, improving brain function.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Some studies are now showing that irisin might be an effective hormone in combatting breast cancer.

A study published in the upcoming February issue of the International Journal of Cancer demonstrated irisin’s ability to increase the rate of apoptosis, or “cell death”, by twenty-two times in cancer cells treated

with irisin. !

It also showed some promising results when used in conjunction with doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug, increasing apoptosis while decreasing the amount of doxorubicin absorbed into the cells.

THE NUMBERSWhile the results of this study are far from being decisive in breast

cancer research—irisin has been tested only in lab cell cultures—the numbers are certainly attractive.

!After adding various doses of irisin to malignant cells for 24 hours:

!Malignant cells were reduced by 34% Cell migration was reduced by 51%

Apoptosis increased by 22x

Such numbers are promising and more studies are certainly warranted. There are more tests being run at the University of New Mexico at

Albequerque, where irisin is introduced to aggressive strains of malignant prostate cells.

THE TAKEAWAY

Exercise has always been known as the best way to stay healthy and new advances in cell biology continue to demonstrate the full extent

of exercise’s health benefits. With the discovery of irisin in 2012 (named after the Greek goddess Iris for the hormone’s theorized role of messenger for the communication between exercise and

muscles), we have further evidence that not only keeps you healthy, but can help fight a lethal disease.

To read more, check out this article about irisin in Wall Street Journal.