In vivo Quantitative evaluation of MR Imaging: Irisin Activates Brown Adipose Tissue and Improves Systemic Metabolic Disorders in Obese Mice

Irisin is an exercise-induced myokine which can induce white adipose tissue browning; however, its impact on BAT remains unclear. Here, we employed MR chemical shift-selective imaging to quantify fat fraction, and to verify these MR-derived data by that from laboratory analysis to investigate the effects of irisin on BAT and systemic metabolism in obese mice. Irisin reduced the fat fraction and increased the UCP1 protein expression of BAT. Besides, irisin helped obese mice to loss weigh and improve systemic metabolic disorders. These results suggests that irisin can reactivate brown adipose tissue and improve systemic metabolic disorders in obese mice.