Irisin attenuates ventilator‐induced diaphragmatic dysfunction by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress through activation of AMPK

Abstract Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an essential life‐saving technique, but prolonged MV can cause significant diaphragmatic dysfunction due to atrophy and decreased contractility of the diaphragm fibres, called ventilator‐induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD). It is not clear about the mechanism of occurrence and prevention measures of VIDD. Irisin is a newly discovered muscle factor that regulates energy metabolism. Studies have shown that irisin can exhibit protective effects by downregulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in a variety of diseases; whether irisin plays a protective role in VIDD has not been reported. Sprague–Dawley rats were mechanically ventilated to construct a VIDD model, and intervention was performed by intravenous administration of irisin. Diaphragm contractility, degree of atrophy, cross‐sectional areas (CSAs), ER stress markers, AMPK protein expression, oxidative stress indicators and apoptotic cell levels were measured at the end of the experiment.Our findings showed that as the duration of ventilation increased, the more severe the VIDD was, the degree of ER stress increased, and the expression of irisin decreased.ER stress may be one of the causes of VIDD. Intervention with irisin ameliorated VIDD by reducing the degree of ER stress, attenuating oxidative stress, and decreasing the apoptotic index. MV decreases the expression of phosphorylated AMPK in the diaphragm, whereas the use of irisin increases the expression of phosphorylated AMPK. Irisin may exert its protective effect by activating the phosphorylated AMPK pathway.