Exercise increases circulating GDF15 in humans

• Published in: Molecular metabolism (Germany) Vol. 9; pp. 187 - 191
• Main Authors: Kleinert, Maximilian, Clemmensen, Christoffer, Sjøberg, Kim A., Carl, Christian Strini, Jeppesen, Jacob Fuglsbjerg, Wojtaszewski, Jørgen F.P., Kiens, Bente, Richter, Erik A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.03.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Brief Communication; Exercise; Growth differentiation factor 15; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 - blood; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Oxygen Consumption; Physical activity; Random Allocation; Recovery; Skeletal muscle; Physical activity; Growth differentiation factor 15; Recovery; Skeletal muscle
• ISSN: 2212-8778; 2212-8778
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2017.12.016

The growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a stress-sensitive circulating factor that regulates systemic energy balance. Since exercise is a transient physiological stress that has pleiotropic effects on whole-body energy metabolism, we herein explored the effect of exercise on a) circulating GDF15 levels and b) GDF15 release from skeletal muscle in humans. Seven healthy males either rested or exercised at 67% of their VO2max for 1 h and blood was sampled from the femoral artery and femoral vein before, during, and after exercise. Plasma GDF15 concentrations were determined in these samples. Plasma GDF15 levels increased 34% with exercise (p < 0.001) and further increased to 64% above resting values at 120 min (p < 0.001) after the cessation of exercise. There was no difference between the arterial and venous GDF15 concentration before, during, and after exercise. During a resting control trial, GDF15 levels measured in the same subjects were unaltered. Vigorous submaximal exercise increases circulating GDF15 levels in humans, but skeletal muscle tissue does not appear to be the source. •Circulating GDF15 increases during exercise and during recovery from exercise in humans.•Skeletal muscle tissue appears not to be the source for this exercise-induced increase in GDF15 levels.•Exercise history should be considered when evaluating GDF15 as a clinical biomarker.