Skip to content

Study · Non-randomized trial · n = 10 · 2022

1 result

GDF15 is an exercise-induced hepatokine regulated by glucagon and insulin in humans.

Plomgaard P, Hansen JS, Townsend LK, Gudiksen A, Secher NH, Clemmesen JO, Støving RK, Goetze JP, Wright DC, Pilegaard H

Frontiers in endocrinology5 Dec 2022Cited by 34 (Europe PMC)

PMID36545337 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC9760804 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3389/fendo.2022.1037948 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-36545337
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 1 result

Summary

ObjectiveGrowth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 is implicated in regulation of metabolism and circulating GDF15 increases in response to exercise. The source and regulation of the exercise-induced increase in GDF15 is, however not known.MethodPlasma GDF15 was measured by ELISA under the following conditions: 1) Arterial-to-hepatic venous differences sampled before, during, and after exercise in healthy male subjects (n=10); 2) exogenous glucagon infusion compared to saline infusion in resting healthy subjects (n=10); 3) an acute exercise bout with and without a pancreatic clamp (n=6); 4) healthy subjects for 36 hours (n=17), and 5) patients with anorexia nervosa (n=25) were compared to healthy age-matched subjects (n=25). Tissue GDF15 mRNA content was determined in mice in response to exhaustive exercise (n=16).ResultsThe splanchnic bed released GDF15 to the circulation during exercise and increasing the glucagon-to-insulin ratio in resting humans led to a 2.7-fold (P<0.05) increase in circulating GDF15. Conversely, inhibiting the exercise-induced increase in the glucagon-to-insulin ratio blunted the exercise-induced increase in circulating GDF15. Fasting for 36 hours did not affect circulating GDF15, whereas resting patients with anorexia nervosa displayed elevated plasma concentrations (1.4-fold, P<0.05) compared to controls. In mice, exercise increased GDF15 mRNA contents in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue.ConclusionIn humans, GDF15 is a "hepatokine" which increases during exercise and is at least in part regulated by the glucagon-to-insulin ratio. Moreover, chronic energy deprivation is associated with elevated plasma GDF15, which supports that GDF15 is implicated in metabolic signalling in humans.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. 1 result from people.

  1. 01HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism

    In resting healthy humans, glucagon infusion increased circulating GDF15 2.7-fold (P<0.05) while increasing the glucagon-to-insulin ratio.

    In plain wordsIn resting healthy people, glucagon infusion increased circulating GDF15 compared with saline infusion.

    Peptide
    Glucagon
    Outcome
    IncreaseCirculating GDF15
    Study

    n = 10

    Comparator
    Saline infusion
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · infusionAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Circulating GDF15 fold change
    2.7 fold
    glucagon infusion vs saline
    P value
    < 0.05
    GDF15 increase

    Source sentences

    Summary
    increasing the glucagon-to-insulin ratio in resting humans led to a 2.7-fold (P<0.05) increase in circulating GDF15.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    2) exogenous glucagon infusion compared to saline infusion in resting healthy subjects (n=10);

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:35 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.