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Published on: September 15, 2023
Correlation between growth differentiation factor-15 and collagen metabolism indicators in patients with myocardial
Fang-Fang Wang1, Bao-Xia Chen1, Hai-Yi Yu1
1Department of Cardiology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Receptors Research, Peking University Health Science Center and Key Laboratory of Molecular Ministry of Education, Cardiovascular Science, Peking University Third Hospital, Hua Yuan Bei Lu, Hai Dian District, Beijing, China.
Insights
Growth Differentiation Factor (GDF)-15 levels are elevated in heart failure (HF) patients post-myocardial infarction (MI). GDF-15 correlates with collagen turnover markers, indicating its role in HF progression and cardiac remodeling.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Growth Differentiation Factor (GDF)-15 is upregulated during pressure overload and heart failure (HF).
- Heart failure often follows myocardial infarction (MI), leading to adverse outcomes.
- GDF-15's role in collagen turnover during HF requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between GDF-15 levels and collagen turnover markers.
- To explore GDF-15's relationship with different stages of heart failure.
- To assess GDF-15's correlation with echocardiographic parameters in HF patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 179 patients was studied, including stable angina, old MI without HF, old MI with HF, and controls.
- Plasma levels of GDF-15, precollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP), type I collagen carboxy-terminal peptide (ICTP), and precollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) were measured.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for all measurements.
Main Results:
- Plasma GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in the old MI with HF group compared to other groups.
- Collagen turnover markers (ICTP, PINP, PIIINP) were elevated in the old MI with HF group.
- GDF-15 positively correlated with ICTP, PIIINP, and diastolic indicators (E/Em, left atrial pressure), and inversely with systolic indicators (left ventricular ejection fraction, Sm).
Conclusions:
- Plasma GDF-15 is associated with indicators of type I and III collagen turnover.
- GDF-15 may serve as a biomarker for collagen remodeling in heart failure.
- Findings suggest GDF-15's involvement in the pathophysiology of HF post-MI.
Background:
Growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, a divergent member of the transforming growth factor beta super-family does appear to be up-regulated in response to experimental pressure overload and progression of heart failure (HF). HF frequently develops after myocardial infarction (MI), contributing to worse outcome. The aim of this study is to assess the correlation between GDF-15 levels and markers related to collagen turnover in different stages of HF.
Methods:
The study consists of a cohort of 179 patients, including stable angina pectoris patients (AP group, n = 50), old MI patients without HF (OMI group, n = 56), old MI patients with HF (OMI-HF group, n = 38) and normal Control group (n = 35). Both indicators reflecting the synthesis and degradation rates of collagen including precollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP), type I collagen carboxy-terminal peptide (ICTP), precollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) and GDF-15 were measured using an enzyme-linked inmunosorbent assay.
Results:
The plasma GDF-15 level was higher in OMI-HF group (1373.4 ± 275.4 ng/L) than OMI group (1036.1 ± 248.6 ng/L), AP group (784.6 ± 222.4 ng/L) and Control group (483.8 ± 186.4 ng/L) (P < 0.001). The indicators of collagen turnover (ICTP, PINP, PIIINP) all increased in the OMI-HF group compared with Control group (3.03 ± 1.02 µg/L vs. 2.08 ± 0.95 µg/L, 22.2 ± 6.6 µg/L vs. 16.7 ± 5.1 µg/L and 13.2 ± 7.9 µg/L vs. 6.4 ± 2.1 µg/L, respectively; P < 0.01). GDF-15 positively correlated with ICTP and PIIINP (r = 0.302, P < 0.001 and r = 0.206, P = 0.006, respectively). GDF-15 positively correlated to the echocardiographic diastolic indicators E/Em and left atrial pressure (r = 0.349 and r = 0.358, respectively; P < 0.01), and inversely correlated to the systolic indicators left ventricular ejection fraction and the average of peak systolic myocardial velocities (Sm) (r = -0.623 and r = -0.365, respectively; P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Plasma GDF-15 is associated with the indicators of type I and III collagen turnover.

