title: The TGF-β superfamily cytokine, MIC-1/GDF15: a pleotrophic cytokine with roles in inflammation, cancer and metabolism.
abstract: Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1/GDF15) is associated with cardiovascular disease, inflammation, body weight regulation and cancer. Its serum levels facilitate the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer and vascular disease. Furthermore, its serum levels are a powerful predictor of all-cause mortality, suggesting a fundamental role in biological processes associated with ageing. In cancer, the data available suggest that MIC-1/GDF15 is antitumorigenic, but this may not always be the case as disease progresses. Cancer promoting effects of MIC-1/GDF15 may be due, in part, to effects on antitumour immunity. This is suggested by the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of MIC-1/GDF15 in animal models of atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, in late-stage cancer, large amounts of MIC-1/GDF15 in the circulation suppress appetite and mediate cancer anorexia/cachexia, which can be reversed by monoclonal antibodies in animals. Available data suggest MIC-1/GDF15 may be an important molecule mediating the interplay between cancer, obesity and chronic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent's Hospital and University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: Samuel N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Breit
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johnen
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Vicky W W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Mohammad G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuffner
authors.forename: Hong Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Marquis
authors.forename: Lele
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee-Ng
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Husaini
authors.forename: Liyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D015415:Biomarkers; D002100:Cachexia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C526140:GDF15 protein, human; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15