GDF15 is dispensable for the insulin-sensitizing effects of chronic exercise

Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) has recently emerged as a weight loss and insulin-sensitizing factor. Growing evidence also supports a role for GDF15 as a physiological, exercise-induced stress signal. Here, we tested whether GDF15 is required for the insulin-sensitizing effects of exercise in mice and humans. At baseline, both under a standard nutritional state and high-fat feeding, GDF15 knockout (KO) mice display normal glucose tolerance, systemic insulin sensitivity, maximal speed, and endurance running capacity when compared to wild-type littermates independent of sex. When submitted to a 4-week exercise training program, both lean and obese wild-type and GDF15 KO mice similarly improve their endurance running capacity, glucose tolerance, systemic insulin sensitivity, and peripheral glucose uptake. Insulin-sensitizing effects of exercise training were also unrelated to changes in plasma GDF15 in humans. In summary, we here show that GDF15 is dispensable for the insulin-sensitizing effects of chronic exercise.