Scientists at McMaster University have discovered an unexpected property of the satiety hormone GDF15: It can shift immune cells in the liver into a protective state and slow the progression of cirrhosis. Notably, this effect does not depend on calorie restriction or fat loss.
The study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, found that GDF15 can reduce liver inflammation and slow the progression of liver scarring independently of weight loss.
How GDF15 protects the liver
In experiments involving specially bred laboratory mice that develop metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in ways that mirror key features of human disease, researchers found that GDF15 sends a signal to the brain. The brain then uses the nervous system to trigger the release of glucocorticoids, a class of hormones with anti-inflammatory effects.
The glucocorticoids helped suppress inflammation in the liver. These protective effects occurred independently of changes in food intake, body weight or the amount of fat in the liver.
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The researchers also found that GDF15 can limit the progression of liver fibrosis, the buildup of scar tissue that can occur as chronic liver disease advances.
A different function of GDF15
A 2023 study showed that GDF15 helps maintain calorie expenditure during weight loss. The new research points to a different function of the hormone: protecting the liver through a previously unidentified anti-inflammatory pathway.
According to the researchers, the findings from the two studies could contribute to the development of treatments that specifically target liver inflammation, a key driver of disease progression in MASH, which remains difficult to treat.
