Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15)

GDF15 is a protein belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily that has a role in regulating inflammatory and apoptotic pathways in injured tissues and during disease processes.GDF15 is also known as TGF-PL, MIC-1, PDF, PLAB, and PTGFB.GDF15 mRNA is most abundant in the liver, with lower levels seen in some other tissues. Its expression in liver can be significantly up-regulated in during injury of organs such as liver, kidney, heart and lung.

Northern blot analysis showed that MIC1 is not expressed in undifferentiated cells but is progressively upregulated upon differentiation with retinoic acid followed by phorbol ester or cytokine treatment. Exposure of macrophages to MIC1 or TGFB1, followed by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, suppressed the production of TNFA.