The wasting hormone GDF15 frees up fat to fight infection

Serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a biomarker of cardiac manifestations in children with COVID-19

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 leads to severe overwhelming inflammation in some patients mediated by various cytokines (cytokine storm) that usually leads to severe illness accompanied by cardiovascular manifestations. Growth differentiation factor-15 is a cytokine induced by stress and is associated with inflammatory processes in the lung and heart. This study aimed to measure the level of serum growth differentiation factor (GDF-15) in children with COVID-19 and to correlate it with the disease severity, cardiac affection, and the outcome of COVID-19.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 144 children; 72 children diagnosed with COVID-19, and 72 healthy children. The severity of COVID-19 was assessed clinically, laboratory, and radiologically. Echocardiography was done within 48 h of admission for COVID-19 patients. Serum GDF-15 was measured by ELISA for both patients and controls.

RESULTS

Serum GDF-15 level was significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 than in controls (p < 0.01). In COVID-19 patients with severe clinical grading, those who were hospitalized in the PICU, and those who died, serum GDF-15 levels were greater. individuals with cardiac manifestations exhibited significantly higher serum GDF-15 levels than individuals without them. In children with COVID-19, increased GDF-15 was correlated to poorer ejection fraction and higher INR using multivariate linear regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Serum GDF-15 is a promising biomarker of COVID-19, it can be used as a predictor of cardiac manifestations in children with COVID-19 and severe disease.

Coping With Stress: The Mitokine GDF-15 as a Biomarker of COVID-19 Severity

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily cytokine that plays a central role in metabolism regulation. Produced in response to mitochondrial stress, tissue damage or hypoxia, this cytokine has emerged as one of the strongest predictors of disease severity during inflammatory conditions, cancers and infections. Reports suggest that GDF-15 plays a tissue protective role via sympathetic and metabolic adaptation in the context of mitochondrial damage, although the exact mechanisms involved remain uncertain. In this review, we discuss the emergence of GDF-15 as a distinctive marker of viral infection severity, especially in the context of COVID-19. We will critically review the role of GDF-15 as an inflammation-induced mediator of disease tolerance, through metabolic and immune reprogramming. Finally, we discuss potential mechanisms of GDF-15 elevation during COVID-19 cytokine storm and its limitations. Altogether, this cytokine seems to be involved in disease tolerance to viral infections including SARS-CoV-2, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions.

Whole-exome sequencing uncovers new variants in GDF15 associated with hyperemesis gravidarum

Whole‐exome sequencing reveals placenta and vomiting hormone GDF15 most likely cause of Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

CXCL5-mediated recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity of Gdf15-deficient mice protects against abdominal sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction condition caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection. Here we report that the circulating levels of growth and differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) are strongly increased in septic shock patients and correlate with mortality. In mice, we find that peptidoglycan is a potent ligand that signals through the TLR2-Myd88 axis for the secretion of GDF15, and that Gdf15-deficient mice are protected against abdominal sepsis due to increased chemokine CXC ligand 5 (CXCL5)-mediated recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneum, leading to better local bacterial control. Our results identify GDF15 as a potential target to improve sepsis treatment. Its inhibition should increase neutrophil recruitment to the site of infection and consequently lead to better pathogen control and clearance.