Exercise training is one of the major non-pharmacological treatments for hypertension. However, the central mechanism by which exercise training attenuates the hypertensive responses remains unclear. Irisin is a muscle-secreted cytokine derived from fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) that will be released into the circulation during exercise. We hypothesized that irisin may play a role in the blood pressure regulation by exercise. To examine the hypothesis, our study investigated the effect of irisin on hypertension and its central mechanism. The study was performed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. We found that intravenous injection of irisin effectively reduced blood pressure, plasma norepinephrine, paraventricular nucleus (PVN) levels of neuronal activation, oxidative stress and inflammation in SHRs. Moreover, irisin activated nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and restored the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the PVN. Our study also found PVN knockdown of Nrf2 abolished the protective effects of irisin on hypertension. These findings demonstrate irisin can improve hypertension via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant in the PVN.

运动训练是高血压的主要非药物治疗方法之一。然而，运动训练减弱高血压反应的中心机制仍不清楚。Irisin是一种肌肉分泌的细胞因子，衍生自包含5（FNDC5）的III型纤连蛋白结构域，在运动过程中会释放到循环系统中。我们假设虹膜素可能通过运动来调节血压。为了检验该假设，我们的研究调查了鸢尾素对高血压的影响及其中枢机制。这项研究是在自发性高血压大鼠（SHRs）和血压正常的Wistar-Kyoto大鼠中进行的。我们发现静脉注射鸢尾素可有效降低血压，血浆去甲肾上腺素，脑室旁核（PVN）的神经元激活水平，SHR中的氧化应激和炎症。此外，虹膜素激活核因子E2相关因子2（Nrf2），并恢复了PVN中神经递质的失衡。我们的研究还发现，Nrf2的PVN抑制消除了鸢尾素对高血压的保护作用。这些发现表明，虹膜素可以通过Nrf2介导的PVN抗氧化剂改善高血压。