1Postgraduate, 3rd Year, MD Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
2Professor & Head, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
3*Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. Anuradha Ganesan, Email ID: anuradhasankar79@gmail.com
Title: Lower Irisin Levels and Amplified Inflammatory Signatures Characterise Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Background
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia and low-grade inflammation. Irisin, a myokine derived from FNDC5, is implicated in energy homeostasis and adipose tissue browning, but its role in human metabolic disease remains uncertain. This study compared circulating irisin and inflammatory biomarkers between patients with T2DM and healthy controls and examined correlations between irisin and inflammatory indices.
Methods
An age and sex-matched hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary centre in Tamil Nadu, India. Eighty-eight adults with clinically diagnosed T2DM and 88 healthy controls (35–70 years) were enrolled. Anthropometry and fasting samples were obtained. Serum irisin, hsCRP, IL-6, ferritin, uric acid and AST were measured; NLR and PLR were derived from haematological parameters. WHR and TyG index were calculated. Group comparisons used t tests, Mann–Whitney U tests or χ² tests. Correlations were assessed using Pearson or Spearman coefficients.
Results
Groups were comparable in age and sex (p > 0.05). Mean irisin levels were significantly lower in T2DM than controls (15.53 ± 0.99 vs 27.01 ± 1.73 ng/mL, p < 0.001). T2DM participants showed higher hsCRP, IL-6, ferritin, NLR, PLR and uric acid (all p < 0.05), while AST, WHR and TyG did not differ significantly. Within the T2DM group, irisin correlated strongly and positively with hsCRP (r = 0.978), IL-6 (r = 0.984) and ferritin (r = 0.991), independent of age, sex and BMI. IL-6 and ferritin were independent predictors of irisin (adjusted R² = 0.80).
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus have significantly lower circulating irisin levels accompanied by markedly elevated inflammatory biomarkers, indicating a disrupted myokine-inflammation axis. The significant negative correlations between irisin and inflammatory markers suggest that lower irisin levels are associated with greater inflammatory burden in T2DM.
Keywords: irisin; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; inflammatory biomarkers; high sensitivity C reactive protein; interleukin 6; ferritin; cross sectional study.
How to cite this article: Rubisha RB, Karpagavel L, Ganesan A. Lower Irisin Levels and Amplified Inflammatory Signatures Characterise Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(16s): 499-505. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.16s.53
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None