Reduced serum Irisin levels in systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional case–control study
Clinical Rheumatology, cilt.45, sa.11, ss.6781-6795, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 45 Sayı: 11
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10067-026-08457-5
- Dergi Adı: Clinical Rheumatology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.6781-6795
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Biomarkers, Fibrosis, Irisin, Myokines, Scleroderma, Systemic
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Introduction/Objectives: Irisin is a muscle-derived myokine implicated in metabolic regulation, endothelial function, inflammation, and fibrotic remodeling. Its relevance in systemic sclerosis (SSc), a disease characterized by autoimmunity, vasculopathy, and fibrosis, remains unknown. To compare serum Irisin levels between patients with SSc and healthy controls and to evaluate their associations with clinical-serological phenotype and organ-domain involvement in SSc. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional case–control study included 52 patients with SSc and 47 healthy controls. Serum Irisin was measured by ELISA. Clinical-serological subsets, nailfold videocapillaroscopy findings, modified Rodnan skin score, pulmonary function, HRCT-derived ILD and Warrick scores, echocardiographic variables, gastrointestinal involvement, comorbidities, treatment exposure, and laboratory parameters were assessed. Adjusted analyses used log-linear models with robust standard errors. Results: Serum Irisin levels were significantly lower in SSc patients than in controls [696.70 pg/mL, IQR 611.16–1288.50 vs. 755.84 pg/mL, IQR 689.34–1899.75; p = 0.004]. This association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status, corresponding to 23.8% lower Irisin levels in SSc. Exploratory within-SSc analyses suggested lower Irisin levels in diffuse SSc and Scl-70-positive disease, particularly in adjusted models; however, unadjusted subgroup comparisons were weaker and should be interpreted cautiously. Irisin was not associated with NVC damage burden, mRSS, ILD severity, pulmonary function, or echocardiographic variables. Conclusion: Serum Irisin levels are reduced in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls. Exploratory phenotype analyses suggest a possible association with diffuse/Scl-70-related disease, but this signal requires confirmation in independent cohorts. Irisin did not reflect established organ-domain damage, suggesting that it may represent a broader myokine-metabolic alteration in SSc rather than a direct organ severity biomarker. (Table presented.)