The Role of Myokines and Adipokines in Hypertension and Hypertension-related Complications

The cross-talk between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue has been identified to play a key role in the regulation of blood pressure and the development of hypertension. The role of different adipokines and myokines in hypertension and hypertension-related complications remains unclear. In the present study, 98 hypertensive patients and 24 normotensive controls were recruited, and additional subgroup analyses of hypertension-related complications were also performed. The levels of the circulating bone-derived factors leptin, apelin, fractalkine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), myostatin, fatty-acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3), irisin, follistatin-related protein 1 (FSTL1), oncostatin M, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and musclin were measured by a protein liquid chip assay. The circulating levels of BDNF and musclin were decreased, whereas the leptin and irisin levels were increased, in hypertensive patients compared with those in the control individuals. Further logistic analysis indicated that the irisin level was positively correlated with SBP and an independent predictor for hypertension after adjustment. In nonobese subjects, the concentrations of DKK1, BDNF and FSTL1 were decreased, whereas the concentrations of leptin and irisin were increased. Irisin and DKK1 might be associated with hypertension. Additional subgroup analyses showed that irisin is significantly associated with hypertension-related stroke. In conclusion, we found that increased irisin levels are associated with hypertension and hypertension-related stroke. These findings indicate that irisin may be involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension.