title: The divergent roles of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in benign and malignant skin pathologies.
abstract: GDF-15 (Growth Differentiation Factor-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily. GDF-15 is not only involved in cancer development, progression, angiogenesis and metastasis, but also controls stress responses, bone formation, hematopoietic development, adipose tissue function and cardiovascular diseases. GDF-15, which is regulated by p53, has shown antitumorigenic and proapoptotic activities in vivo and in vitro. Also, GDF-15 is involved in skin biology and histamine-induced melanogenesis; it is overexpressed in melanoma cells and is associated with depth of tumor invasion and metastasis. GDF-15 level is increased in patients with systemic sclerosis and is related with the degree of skin sclerosis and intensity of pulmonary fibrosis. In the future, GDF-15 may be a potential target for therapy in benign disorders with skin fibrosis and malignant lesions of the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey, betulunalmd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Betül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ünal
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alan
authors.forename: Cumhur İbrahim
authors.initials: Cİ
authors.lastname: Başsorgun
authors.forename: Ayşe Akman
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Karakaş
authors.forename: Gülsüm Özlem
authors.initials: GÖ
authors.lastname: Elpek
authors.forename: Mehmet Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Çiftçioğlu
mesh_terms: D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C526140:GDF15 protein, human; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D008543:Melanins