Role of GDF15 in the Regulation of Host Tolerance to Inflammation

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PROJECT SUMMARY Growth and Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) is highly induced in virtually all inflammatory conditions in humans, including sepsis, cancer and autoimmunity, but its role in the inflammatory response has been unclear. This proposal seeks to understand the role of Growth and Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) in mediating protection in sepsis. Preliminary data for this proposal reveals that GDF15 is induced specifically in models of acute infection/inflammation but not other environmental stress conditions and achieves nanogram levels in circulation. The GDF15 receptor, glial cell-lone derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like (GFRAL), was found only in the hindbrain and not induced by inflammation. Blockade of GDF15 led to enhanced mortality in multiple models of sepsis, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cecal-ligation puncture (CLP), Poly(I:C), and influenza. Conversely, late administration of recombinant GDF15 led to protection. GDF15 inhibition did not affect inflammatory magnitude or pathogen control. However, GDF15 blockade led to an impairment in the ability of mice to switch to an oxidative phosphorylation state. There was no difference in ketonemia or plasma free fatty acids but a significant decrease in circulating plasma triglycerides. We also found that blockade of GDF15 led to enhanced cardiotoxicity, without a difference in overall hemodynamic control. Thus, GDF15 is a tissue protective hormone. This proposal seeks to test the idea that GDF15 is an adaptive cytokine produced by macrophages in response to acute inflammation, which mediates cardioprotection by controlling triglyceride metabolism via sympathetic innervation.