Objective: To investigate the effect of irisin on the function and apoptosis of pancreatic β cells induced by palmitic acid (PA). Methods: Firstly

INS-1 cells were cultivated and treated with different concentration gradients of irisin. The optimal concentration of 1 500 ng/mL was selected according to the protein results of Western blot. Secondly

INS-1 cells were divided into the normal group

the PA group

the palmitate acid+1 500 ng/mL irisin group

the palmitate acid+1 500 ng/mL irisin+rapamycin group and the palmitate acid+1 500 ng/mL irisin+3-MA group. The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) test (with glucose levels of 3.3 mmol/L and 16.7 mmol/L) was performed to determine the insulin level in each group. Western blot was used to determine the levels of mamlian target of rapamycin (mTOR)

p-mTOR

p62

LC3Ⅱand LC3Ⅰ; mRFP-GFP-LC3 and flow cytometry were used to determine the autophagic flow and cell apoptosis

respectively. SPSS 20.0 was used to conduct data analysis. Results were presented as the mean±SD

one-way analysis of variance followed by Turkey HSD was used to calculate differences among the various study groups. Results: ①Compared with the normal group

the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰin the PA group was higher (0.745±0.035 vs.1.015±0.012

P=0.000). With the increase of irisin concentration

the level of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰwas gradually increased and had statistical significance (I1: 1.465±0.028

I2: 2.269±0.063

I3: 1.858±0.074

I4: 2.355±0.074; P=0.000). When irisin concentration was 1 500 ng/mL

the level of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰwas the highest.②GSIS levels in the INS-1 cell supernatant in the PA group was significantly reduced for stimulation of 3.3 mmol/L and 16.7 mmol/L of glucose when compared with the normal group [(0.447±0.067) ng/mL vs. (0.138±0.012) ng/mL

P=0.000; (0.625±0.041) ng/mL vs. (0.245±0.043) ng/mL

P=0.000]

while in the irisin treated group were increased when compared with the PA group [(0.138±0.012) ng/mL vs. (0.322±0.041) ng/mL

P=0.001; (0.245±0.043) ng/mL vs. (0.414±0.036) ng/mL

P=0.005].③The number of autophagosome in the PA group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (2.33±1.53 vs.10.33±1.53

P=0.000)

but there was no obvious change in the number of autophagolysosome (2.33±1.53 vs.3.33±1.53

P=0.939). In the irisin group

the autolysosome number and autolysosome number was increased when compared with PA group (10.33±1.53 vs.15.67±1.53

P=0.007; 3.33±1.53 vs.12.00±2.00

P=0.001). Treated with PA for 24 hours

the apoptosis rate of INS-1 cells was increased when compared with the normal group [(11.417±1.297) %vs. (46.507±0.525) %

P=0.000]

while the irisin-treated group had a significantly reduced apoptosis rate when compared with the PA group [(46.507±0.525) %vs. (33.767±1.083) %

P=0.000]. Conclusion: Irisin ameliorates apoptosis and improves secretion function of INS-1 cells induced by PA through autophagy.