Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 11, 2025

The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
08:55

The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia

Published on: November 30, 2016

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Pathophysiological role of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in obesity, cancer, and cachexia

Jawed Akhtar Siddiqui1, Ramesh Pothuraju2, Parvez Khan2

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews
|November 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) plays complex roles in diseases like cancer and metabolic disorders. Its receptor, GFRAL, offers new therapeutic targets for improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), also known as Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 (MIC-1), is a unique member of the TGF-β superfamily.
  • GDF15 influences critical physiological processes including energy homeostasis, metabolism, growth, and stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structure and multifaceted functions of GDF15 and its receptor, GFRAL.
  • To emphasize GDF15's roles in obesity, cancer, metastasis, immunomodulation, and cachexia.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on GDF15 and GFRAL research.
  • Analysis of GDF15's pathophysiological roles across various diseases.

Main Results:

  • GDF15 exhibits diverse roles in cancer development and progression, contingent on cancer type, stage, and microenvironment.
  • Identification of GFRAL as the GDF15 receptor has spurred research into GDF15-associated signaling pathways.
  • Therapeutic targeting of GDF15/GFRAL pathways shows promise for metabolic disorders and cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

  • GDF15 is a key regulator with pleiotropic effects in metabolic diseases and cancer.
  • Understanding GDF15-GFRAL interactions is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
CachexiaCancerGDF15GFRALObesity

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