Ha Thi Nga1,2, Il-Young Jang3, Da Ae Kim4, So Jeong Park4, Jin Young Lee4, Seungjoo Lee5, Jeoung Hee Kim5, Eunju Lee3, Jin Hoon Park5, Young-Ho Lee6, Hyon-Seung Yi7,8, Beom-Jun Kim9. 1. Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Medical Science, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. 3. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 6. Protein Structure Group, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Cheongju, Republic of Korea. 7. Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, jmpbooks@cnu.ac.kr. 8. Department of Medical Science, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, jmpbooks@cnu.ac.kr. 9. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), induced by tissue inflammation and mitochondrial stress, has received significant attention as a biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction and has been implicated in various age-related diseases. However, the association between circulating GDF15 and sarcopenia-associated outcomes in older adults remains to be established. AIM: To validate previous experimental data and to investigate the possible role of GDF15 in aging and muscle physiology in humans, this study examined serum GDF15 levels in relation to sarcopenia-related parameters in a cohort of older Asian adults. METHODS: Muscle mass and muscle function-related parameters, such as grip strength, gait speed, chair stands, and short physical performance battery score were evaluated by experienced nurses in 125 geriatric participants with or without sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the Asian-specific cutoff points. Serum GDF15 levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. RESULTS: Serum GDF15 levels were not significantly different according to sarcopenia status, muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance and were not associated with the skeletal muscle index, grip strength, gait speed, time to complete 5 chair stands, and short physical performance battery score, regardless of adjustments for sex, age, and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the definite role of GDF15 on muscle metabolism observed in animal models might not be evident in humans and that elevated GDF15 levels might not predict the risk for sarcopenia, at least in older Asian adults.
BACKGROUND:Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), induced by tissue inflammation and mitochondrial stress, has received significant attention as a biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction and has been implicated in various age-related diseases. However, the association between circulating GDF15 and sarcopenia-associated outcomes in older adults remains to be established. AIM: To validate previous experimental data and to investigate the possible role of GDF15 in aging and muscle physiology in humans, this study examined serum GDF15 levels in relation to sarcopenia-related parameters in a cohort of older Asian adults. METHODS: Muscle mass and muscle function-related parameters, such as grip strength, gait speed, chair stands, and short physical performance battery score were evaluated by experienced nurses in 125 geriatric participants with or without sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the Asian-specific cutoff points. Serum GDF15 levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. RESULTS: Serum GDF15 levels were not significantly different according to sarcopenia status, muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance and were not associated with the skeletal muscle index, grip strength, gait speed, time to complete 5 chair stands, and short physical performance battery score, regardless of adjustments for sex, age, and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the definite role of GDF15 on muscle metabolism observed in animal models might not be evident in humans and that elevated GDF15 levels might not predict the risk for sarcopenia, at least in older Asian adults.