Relationship between GDF15 level and bone metabolism in postmenopausal Chinese women

Abstract

Background: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), is a newly identified member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) family. It circulates as a 24.5-kDa homodimer. However, the function of GDF15 in bone metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the function of GDF15 in postmenopausal Chinese women.

Methods: We measured serum GDF15 levels, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone turnover markers in 201 postmenopausal Chinese women ranging in age from 47 to 80 years.

Results: The concentration of serum GDF15 increased with age. Growth differentiation factor 15 levels displayed a negative correlation with lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip BMD. After adjusting for age, this association still existed and was significant. We identified age, GDF15, body mass index (BMI), and estradiol to be associated with BMD. Furthermore, we found that GDF15 levels had a significant negative relationship with bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) levels; this relationship remained significant after adjustment. However, there was no significant correlation between levels of GDF15 and N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX).

Conclusions: For postmenopausal Chinese women, GDF15 is a negative predictor of BMD and has a negative correlation with bone formation biomarker BAP. In other words, GDF15 exerts negative regulation on bone mass by inhibiting bone formation.

摘要

背景：生长分化因子15（GDF15）是转化生长因子β（TGF-b）超家族的新成员。它以24.5-kDa的同源二聚体形式循环。然而, GDF15在骨代谢中的作用尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨GDF15在中国绝经后女性中的作用。

方法：对201例47～80岁绝经后女性血清GDF15水平、骨密度（BMD）和骨转换指标进行测定。

结果：血清GDF15浓度随年龄增长而升高。生长分化因子15水平与腰椎、股骨颈、髋部骨密度呈负相关。在调整了年龄后, 这种关联仍然存在, 并且显著相关。我们确定了年龄、GDF15、体重指数（BMI）和雌二醇与BMD相关。此外, 我们发现GDF15水平与骨碱性磷酸酶（BAP）水平呈显著负相关；这种关系在调整后仍然显著。然而, GDF15水平与I型胶原N末端肽（NTX）无显著相关性。

结论：对于中国绝经后女性, GDF15是骨密度的负预测因子, 与骨形成生物标志物BAP呈负相关。换句话说, GDF15通过抑制骨形成对骨量产生负调节作用。

The Chinese abstracts are translated by Prof. Dr. Xiangyan Ruan and her team: Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China.

Keywords:

• Growth differentiation factor 15
• bone mineral density
• bone alkaline phosphatase
• postmenopausal osteoporosis

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Author contributions

Hua Liu designed and guided the experiment, Tiejian Jiang, LijuanGuo and Wantao Li collected the samples, Chun Li and Xiaoqing Zhou carried out the experiment, Hua Liu analyzed the data, Wantao Li and Hua liu wrote the manuscript, all authors have approved the final article was true and be submitted.

Geolocation information

Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant number 1.81601230 2.81401835].