Irisin attenuates oxidized low‐density lipoprotein impaired angiogenesis through AKT/mTOR/S6K1/Nrf2 pathway

Abstract It is known that irisin increases total body energy expenditure, decreases body weight, and enhances insulin sensitivity. Although previous studies have demonstrated that irisin induces vascular endothelial cell (EC) angiogenesis, the molecular mechanisms underlying irisin‐induced angiogenesis under conditions reflecting atherosclerosis are not known. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether irisin could inhibit oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) impaired angiogenesis. We investigated the effect of irisin on angiogenesis in vitro by evaluating cell viability, cell migration, and the capacity to form capillary‐like tubes using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human microvascular endothelial cells (HUVECs and HMEC‐1) that were treated with oxLDL. We also evaluated the effects of irisin on angiogenesis in vivo by Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay and in a chicken embryo membrane (CAM) model. Our results demonstrated that irisin increased oxLDL‐treated EC viability as well as migration and tube formation. Moreover, oxLDL inhibited angiogenic response in vivo, both in the Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay and in the CAM model, and was attenuated by irisin. Furthermore, irisin decreased apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in oxLDL‐treated EC. In addition, we found that irisin upregulated pAkt/mTOR/Nrf2 in oxLDL‐treated EC. Both mTOR/Nrf2 shRNA and LY294002 could inhibit the protective effect of irisin. Taken together these results, they suggested that irisin attenuates oxLDL‐induced vascular injury by activating the Akt/mTOR/Nrf2 pathway. Our findings suggest that irisin attenuates oxLDL‐induced blood vessel injury.