[The Role of Cytokines MIC-1/GDF15 in Development of the Old Age Disease]

Abstract

This review provides information about the structure and basic functions of the cytokine MIC-1/GDF15. MIC-1/GDF15 is normally contained not only in blood, but also expressed on cells of reproductive and nervous system. Its concentration increases in various diseases of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, thromboembolism, malignant tumors and other pathological conditions, the most common in the elderly. It was demonstrated that the correlation between the level of MIC-1/GDF15 and the severity of the pathological process, disease prognosis, including fatalities, therefore it was named "predictor of death". In gene promoter MIC-1/GDF15 was detected geroprotective binding sites for peptides Lys-Glu, Lys-Glu-Asp, and Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. Probably, these peptides regulate the synthesis of MIC-1/GDF15, whereby its geroprotective effect may be accounted.