GDF-15 and mtDNA Deletions Are Useful Biomarkers of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Insulin Resistance and PCOS

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 25; no. 20; p. 10916
• Main Authors: Varhegyi, Vera, Modos, Anna, Trager, Domonkos, Gerszi, Dora, Horvath, Eszter Maria, Sipos, Miklos, Acs, Nandor, Molnar, Maria Judit, Varbiro, Szabolcs, Gal, Aniko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.10.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Body Mass Index; Carbohydrate metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Comparative analysis; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Female; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 - blood; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 - genetics; Humans; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - genetics; Liraglutide; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mitochondria - genetics; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial DNA; Physiological aspects; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - blood; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - genetics; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - metabolism; Sequence Deletion; Stein-Leventhal syndrome; Type 2 diabetes; Hungary; PCOS; mitochondrial dysfunction; mtDNA deletion; insulin resistance; GDF-15
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms252010916

There is no literature available about the growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) biomarker in combination with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions in insulin resistance (IR), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, it would be useful to achieve optimal metabolic status and improve pregnancy success. In this study, the role of GDF-15 and mtDNA deletions as biomarkers in the pathogenesis of IR and PCOS was investigated. In our study, 81 female patients who were treated for IR and/or PCOS and 41 healthy controls were included. GDF-15 levels in patients showed a marked increase compared to controls. Elevated GDF-15 levels were found in 12 patients; all of them had a BMI > 25 kg/m , which is associated with reactive hyperinsulinemia. The presence of mitochondrial dysfunction was mainly observed in the IR-only subgroup. The increase in plasma levels of GDF-15 and the prevalence of mtDNA deletions is directly proportional to body mass index. The more marked metabolic abnormalities required more intensive drug therapy with a parallel increase in plasma GDF-15 levels. Elevated levels of GDF-15 and the presence of mitochondrial DNA deletions may be a consequence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in patients and thus a predictor of the process of accelerated aging.