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Review
. 2025 Jan;57(1):169-175.
doi: 10.1007/s11255-024-04179-2. Epub 2024 Aug 16.

Role of GDF-15 in diabetic nephropathy: mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapeutic potential

Xin Zhang #  1 , Chen-Gang Zhou #  1 , Li-Jia Ma  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Role of GDF-15 in diabetic nephropathy: mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapeutic potential

Xin Zhang et al. Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a cytokine involved in regulating homeostasis, and its expression is up-regulated in response to injury, stress, and inflammation. This study explored the role of GDF-15 in diabetic nephropathy (DN), a severe complication of diabetes mellitus, and its potential as a biomarker for disease progression.

Methods: As a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, GDF-15 exhibits its renal protective functions primarily through its anti-inflammatory effects and the up-regulation of other renal protective factors. This study evaluated the association between circulating GDF-15 levels and DN progression, examining the underlying mechanisms.

Results: Circulating GDF-15 levels are closely linked to the development and progression of DN. While existing research has yielded some consistent conclusions, a comprehensive understanding of the role of GDF-15 in DN pathogenesis is needed to identify new therapeutic targets and strategies.

Conclusion: GDF-15 has the potential to be a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for DN. It is crucial to establish appropriate reference ranges and explore their clinical utility in routine practice for validating the role of GDF-15 in DN management. Further interventional studies are required to confirm its clinical value in diagnosing and predicting the progression of DN.

Keywords: Circulating growth differentiation factor 15; Diabetic nephropathy; Progression.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable.

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