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Growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) expression in the heart after myocardial infarction and cardioprotective
Geoffrey Dogon1, Eve Rigal1, Eliot Potel1
1Research Team: Physiopathologie et Epidémiologie Cérébro-Cardiovasculaires (PEC2), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Burgundy, 7 Bd Jeanne d'Arc, 21000, Dijon, France.
Scientific Reports
|June 5, 2024
Summary
Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) preconditioning protects the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study shows GDF15 reduces infarct size and improves cardiac function, suggesting direct cardioprotective effects.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Molecular Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) has conflicting roles in cardiovascular disease, with clinical data suggesting poor prognosis but experimental data indicating cardioprotection.
- Understanding GDF15's direct cardiac effects during ischemia-reperfusion injury is crucial for evaluating its therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct cardiac effects of GDF15 during ischemia-reperfusion injury in Wistar rats.
- To evaluate GDF15's cardioprotective potential when administered before ischemia (preconditioning) or at reperfusion (postconditioning).
Main Methods:
- Assessed GDF15 levels in plasma and heart tissue after ischemia-reperfusion and sham operations in Wistar rats.
- Administered recombinant GDF15 (rGDF15) in vivo and ex vivo before ischemia or at reperfusion.
- Quantified infarct size and cardiac contractile recovery in control and rGDF15-treated groups.
Main Results:
- Ischemia-reperfusion did not alter circulating GDF15 levels but increased cardiac GDF15 expression.
- Preconditioning with rGDF15 significantly reduced infarct size in vivo and ex vivo.
- rGDF15 preconditioning enhanced ex vivo cardiac contractile recovery, while postconditioning showed no significant effects.
Conclusions:
- Exogenous rGDF15 administration before ischemia provides significant cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- rGDF15 demonstrates direct cardioprotective properties, independent of systemic factors, suggesting therapeutic potential.
