Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

GDF15: a potential therapeutic target for type 1 diabetes

Journal Article · · Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a pancreatic disease, which is marked by immune-mediated ? cell destruction causing hyperglycemic phenotype. Recently, our team has demonstrated the beneficial role of GDF15 in preventing T1D-associated insulitis. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the therapeutic potential of GDF15 in treating T1D and map the promising avenues demanding increased focus in this field. Areas covered: Several therapeutic options exist for management of T1D, however, the demand for new and efficient therapies persists, particularly for interventions that may prevent or delay disease onset. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a known diabetes biomarker which has shown impressive tissue-protective actions across a broad range of metabolic disorders. There is a tremendous amount of overlap between the two topics (GDF15 & T1D), however, the connections were uncharted. We discuss all these connections and the possibility of exploiting them to make GDF15 a T1D therapy. Expert Opinion: The newly discovered GDF15 primary receptor and associated signaling pathway has accelerated the excitement by making it a druggable target. However, the there exists a huge gap in knowledge regarding the mechanism by which GDF15 functions in the peripheral tissues. In this context, reports of GDF15 receptor in pancreas, gives a convincing argument of direct GDF15 effect. Further, GDF15’s role in regulating mitochondrial, ER and metabolic stress, makes it an ideal T1D candidate.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1855997
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-168207
Journal Information:
Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, Journal Name: Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 26; ISSN 1472-8222
Publisher:
Taylor & FrancisCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (116)

Pancreas Organ Weight in Individuals With Disease-Associated Autoantibodies at Risk for Type 1 Diabetes journal December 2012
Growth differentiation factor 15 as a useful biomarker for mitochondrial disorders journal October 2015
Divergent molecular mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic functions of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 in cancer journal May 2010
MAP3K11/GDF15 axis is a critical driver of cancer cachexia: MAP3K11/GDF15 axis is a driver of cancer cachexia journal October 2015
MIC-1 is a novel TGF-β superfamily cytokine associated with macrophage activation journal January 1999
Temporal changes in the frequencies of HLA genotypes in patients with Type 1 diabetes—indication of an increased environmental pressure? journal March 2003
Four-year metabolic outcome of a randomised controlled CD3-antibody trial in recent-onset type 1 diabetic patients depends on their age and baseline residual beta cell mass journal January 2010
Interferon-α mediates human beta cell HLA class I overexpression, endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis, three hallmarks of early human type 1 diabetes journal January 2017
Current and future therapies for type 1 diabetes journal February 2021
The accelerator hypothesis: weight gain as the missing link between Type I and Type II diabetes journal July 2001
GDF15, an update of the physiological and pathological roles it plays: a review journal September 2020
What the HLA-I!—Classical and Non-classical HLA Class I and Their Potential Roles in Type 1 Diabetes journal December 2019
Associations of GDF-15 and GDF-15/adiponectin ratio with odds of type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population journal March 2021
Interleukin-1 antagonism in type 1 diabetes of recent onset: two multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials journal June 2013
Type 1 diabetes journal June 2018
PLAB, a novel placental bone morphogenetic protein journal October 1997
Identification of a novel member of the TGF-beta superfamily highly expressed in human placenta journal December 1997
Hepatic GDF15 is regulated by CHOP of the unfolded protein response and alleviates NAFLD progression in obese mice journal April 2018
Neural control of the endocrine pancreas journal October 2014
GDF15 Is an Inflammation-Induced Central Mediator of Tissue Tolerance journal August 2019
Supraphysiologic Administration of GDF11 Induces Cachexia in Part by Upregulating GDF15 journal February 2018
GDF15 mediates the metabolic effects of PPARβ/δ by activating AMPK journal August 2021
AMPK: Sensing Glucose as well as Cellular Energy Status journal February 2018
GDF15 Induces Anorexia through Nausea and Emesis journal February 2020
Comprehensive Proteomics Analysis of Stressed Human Islets Identifies GDF15 as a Target for Type 1 Diabetes Intervention journal February 2020
Evaluation of GDF15 as a therapeutic target of cardiometabolic diseases in human: A Mendelian randomization study journal March 2019
Lymphocyte Circadian Clocks Control Lymph Node Trafficking and Adaptive Immune Responses journal January 2017
GDF15 reflects beta cell function in obese patients independently of the grade of impairment of glucose metabolism journal April 2019
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15): A survival protein with therapeutic potential in metabolic diseases journal June 2019
Uniting GDF15 and GFRAL: Therapeutic Opportunities in Obesity and Beyond journal August 2018
Insights Into Mechanisms of GDF15 and Receptor GFRAL: Therapeutic Targets journal December 2020
Growth differentiation factor-15 promotes immune escape of ovarian cancer via targeting CD44 in dendritic cells journal May 2021
NAG-1/GDF-15 prevents obesity by increasing thermogenesis, lipolysis and oxidative metabolism journal February 2014
Disruption of the clock components CLOCK and BMAL1 leads to hypoinsulinaemia and diabetes journal June 2010
Non-homeostatic body weight regulation through a brainstem-restricted receptor for GDF15 journal September 2017
Clinical development success rates for investigational drugs journal January 2014
GDF-15 is an inhibitor of leukocyte integrin activation required for survival after myocardial infarction in mice journal April 2011
GFRAL is the receptor for GDF15 and the ligand promotes weight loss in mice and nonhuman primates journal August 2017
The metabolic effects of GDF15 are mediated by the orphan receptor GFRAL journal August 2017
GFRAL is the receptor for GDF15 and is required for the anti-obesity effects of the ligand journal August 2017
How to improve R&D productivity: the pharmaceutical industry's grand challenge journal February 2010
The role of inflammation in insulitis and β-cell loss in type 1 diabetes journal April 2009
Growth/differentiation factor-15: prostate cancer suppressor or promoter? journal February 2012
Type 1 diabetes mellitus as a disease of the β-cell (do not blame the immune system?) journal December 2020
Pancreatic β-cells in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: different pathways to failure journal May 2020
GDF15: emerging biology and therapeutic applications for obesity and cardiometabolic disease journal August 2021
GDF15 mediates the effects of metformin on body weight and energy balance journal December 2019
Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Deficiency Augments Inflammatory Response and Exacerbates Septic Heart and Renal Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide journal April 2017
Improving the odds of drug development success through human genomics: modelling study journal December 2019
Inhibition of mitochondrial function by metformin increases glucose uptake, glycolysis and GDF-15 release from intestinal cells journal January 2021
Fc-GDF15 glyco-engineering and receptor binding affinity optimization for body weight regulation journal April 2021
The anti-diabetic effects of NAG-1/GDF15 on HFD/STZ-induced mice journal July 2021
Metformin-induced increases in GDF15 are important for suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss journal December 2019
Colchicine—an old dog with new tricks journal April 2021
Cytokine signalling in the β-cell: a dual role for IFNγ journal May 2008
Evidence GDF15 Plays a Role in Familial and Recurrent Hyperemesis Gravidarum journal September 2018
Type I Diabetes Mellitus journal May 1986
Coxsackie B4 virus infection of β cells and natural killer cell insulitis in recent-onset type 1 diabetic patients journal March 2007
The nuclear receptor REV-ERBα mediates circadian regulation of innate immunity through selective regulation of inflammatory cytokines journal December 2011
Treating small fiber neuropathy by topical application of a small molecule modulator of ligand-induced GFRα/RET receptor signaling journal January 2014
Resident macrophages of pancreatic islets have a seminal role in the initiation of autoimmune diabetes of NOD mice journal November 2017
Emerging science of chronotherapy offers big opportunities to optimize drug delivery journal October 2019
CXCL5-mediated recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity of Gdf15 -deficient mice protects against abdominal sepsis journal May 2020
MIC-1, a novel macrophage inhibitory cytokine, is a divergent member of the TGF-β superfamily journal October 1997
Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Member of the Transforming Growth Factor-β/Bone Morphogenetic Protein Family journal May 1998
STAT1 Is a Master Regulator of Pancreatic β-Cell Apoptosis and Islet Inflammation journal October 2010
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-γ Activation Augments the β-Cell Unfolded Protein Response and Rescues Early Glycemic Deterioration and β Cell Death in Non-obese Diabetic Mice journal October 2016
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetes: From Molecular Mechanisms to Functional Significance and Therapeutic Opportunities journal February 2010
Temozolomide chronotherapy in patients with glioblastoma: a retrospective single-institute study journal January 2021
Recent advances in the regulation of pancreatic secretion journal January 2014
Growth differentiation factor 15 protects against the aging‐mediated systemic inflammatory response in humans and mice journal July 2020
The suprachiasmatic nucleus controls the daily variation of plasma glucose via the autonomic output to the liver: are the clock genes involved? journal November 2005
Death of a Beta Cell: Homicide or Suicide? journal March 1986
Identification, expression and functional characterization of the GRAL gene journal October 2005
ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines 2018: Stages of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents journal October 2018
Long-acting MIC-1/GDF15 molecules to treat obesity: Evidence from mice to monkeys journal October 2017
A database of tissue-specific rhythmically expressed human genes has potential applications in circadian medicine journal September 2018
GDF15 induces immunosuppression via CD48 on regulatory T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma journal September 2021
Chronopharmacology: New Insights and Therapeutic Implications journal January 2014
Adipocyte differentiation induces dynamic changes in NF-κB expression and activity journal December 2004
Genetic deletion of growth differentiation factor 15 augments renal damage in both type 1 and type 2 models of diabetes journal November 2013
The Propeptide Mediates Formation of Stromal Stores of PROMIC-1: Role in Determining Prostate Cancer Outcome journal March 2005
Role of Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 in Tumorigenesis and Diagnosis of Cancer: Figure 1. journal May 2006
Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine 1: A New Prognostic Marker in Prostate Cancer journal October 2009
GDF15/MIC-1 Functions As a Protective and Antihypertrophic Factor Released From the Myocardium in Association With SMAD Protein Activation journal February 2006
Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Provides Prognostic Information Superior to Established Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Unselected Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 journal December 2020
NF-κB regulates GDF-15 to suppress macrophage surveillance during early tumor development journal September 2017
Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives journal January 2019
Notch1 signaling in melanoma cells promoted tumor-induced immunosuppression via upregulation of TGF-β1 journal January 2018
Clinical applications of liquid biopsy as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma: circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA journal September 2018
Review of the role of the nervous system in glucose homoeostasis and future perspectives towards the management of diabetes journal July 2018
Identification of Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 in Adipose Tissue and Its Secretion as an Adipokine by Human Adipocytes journal December 2008
Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine 1 (MIC-1/GDF15) Decreases Food Intake, Body Weight and Improves Glucose Tolerance in Mice on Normal & Obesogenic Diets journal April 2012
Adaptive Induction of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Attenuates Endothelial Cell Apoptosis in Response to High Glucose Stimulus journal June 2013
Serum Levels of Human MIC-1/GDF15 Vary in a Diurnal Pattern, Do Not Display a Profile Suggestive of a Satiety Factor and Are Related to BMI journal July 2015
The Relationship between Insulin Resistance and the Cardiovascular Biomarker Growth Differentiation Factor-15 in Obese Patients journal February 2011
The nuclear receptor REV-ERB α represses the transcription of growth/differentiation factor 10 and 15 genes in rat endometrium stromal cells journal January 2016
Increased serum concentrations of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus: the influence of very low calorie diet journal September 2009
Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 is increased in individuals before type 2 diabetes diagnosis but is not an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes: the Whitehall II study journal May 2010
Growth differentiation factor 15 predicts future insulin resistance and impaired glucose control in obese nondiabetic individuals: results from the XENDOS trial journal November 2012
The circadian clock regulates cisplatin-induced toxicity and tumor regression in melanoma mouse and human models journal February 2018
GDF15 promotes EMT and metastasis in colorectal cancer journal October 2015
Definition of High-Risk Type 1 Diabetes HLA-DR and HLA-DQ Types Using Only Three Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms journal May 2013
The Brain–to–Pancreatic Islet Neuronal Map Reveals Differential Glucose Regulation From Distinct Hypothalamic Regions journal April 2016
Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Mediates Systemic Glucose Regulatory Action of T-Helper Type 2 Cytokines journal September 2017
The Rising Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes Is Accounted for by Cases With Lower-Risk Human Leukocyte Antigen Genotypes journal August 2008
Plasma Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Independently Predicts All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality As Well As Deterioration of Kidney Function in Type 1 Diabetic Patients With Nephropathy journal March 2010
The TGF-β superfamily cytokine, MIC-1/GDF15: A pleotrophic cytokine with roles in inflammation, cancer and metabolism journal August 2011
GDF-15 as a Weight Watcher for Diabetic and Non-Diabetic People Treated With Metformin journal November 2020
The Relationship Between Circulating Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Levels and Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes journal March 2021
Growth/Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15): From Biomarker to Novel Targetable Immune Checkpoint journal May 2020
A Novel Small Molecule GDNF Receptor RET Agonist, BT13, Promotes Neurite Growth from Sensory Neurons in Vitro and Attenuates Experimental Neuropathy in the Rat journal January 2017
Increased Growth Differentiation Factor 15 in Patients with Hypoleptinemia-Associated Lipodystrophy journal September 2020
Effect of Weight Loss by Low-Calorie Diet on Cardiovascular Health in Type 2 Diabetes: An Interventional Cohort Study journal April 2021
NSAID Activated Gene (NAG-1), a Modulator of Tumorigenesis journal November 2006
Serum levels of human MIC-1/GDF15 vary in a diurnal pattern, do not display a profile suggestive of a satiety factor and are related to BMI dataset January 2015


Similar Records

Non-homeostatic body weight regulation through a brainstem-restricted receptor for GDF15
Journal Article · Wed Sep 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Nature (London) · OSTI ID:1409576

Fatty acid-mediated signaling as a target for developing type 1 diabetes therapies
Journal Article · Thu Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets · OSTI ID:2263475

Comprehensive proteomics analysis of stressed human islets identifies GDF15 as a target for type 1 diabetes intervention
Journal Article · Mon Feb 03 23:00:00 EST 2020 · Cell Metabolism · OSTI ID:1597642