Circulating growth-and-differentiation factor-15 in early life: relation to prenatal and postnatal growth and adiposity measurements

Author(s)

Diaz, Marta ^{[1, 2]} ; Campderros, Laura ^{[1, 3, 4]} ; Guimaraes, Mariana P. ^[3] ; Lopez-Bermejo, Abel ^{[5, 6]} ; de Zegher, Francis ^{[7, 8]} ; Villarroya, Francesc ^{[1, 3, 4]} ; Ibanez, Lourdes ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Barcelona, Pediat Res Inst St Joan de Deu, Barcelona 08950 - Spain

^[2] Hlth Inst Carlos III, Ctr Invest Biomed Red Diabet & Enfermedades Metab, Madrid - Spain

^[3] Univ Barcelona, Biochem & Mol Biomed Dept, Biomed Inst, E-08028 Barcelona - Spain

^[4] Hlth Inst Carlos III, Network Biomed Res Ctr Physiopathol Obes & Nutr C, Madrid 28029 - Spain

^[5] Dr Josep Trueta Hosp, Dept Pediat, Girona 17007 - Spain

^[6] Dr Josep Trueta Hosp, Girona Inst Biomed Res, Girona 17007 - Spain

^[7] Univ Hosp Gasthuisberg, Pediat & Adolescent Endocrinol, B-3000 Leuven - Belgium

^[8] Univ Leuven, Dept Dev & Regenerat, B-3000 Leuven - Belgium

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Pediatric Research; v. 87, n. 5, p. 897-902, APR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background Growth-and-differentiation-factor-15 (GDF15) is a regulator of energy homeostasis. To determine the relationship between circulating GDF15 and parameters of metabolic health, we assessed longitudinally GDF15 concentrations in infants born either appropriate- (AGA) or small-for-gestational-age (SGA), the latter population known to be at risk for metabolic alterations, particularly after a rapid postnatal catch-up in weight. Methods The study cohort consisted of 103 infants (70 AGA and 33 SGA). Assessments included body length, weight, and ponderal index (PI); fasting glucose, insulin, IGF-I, high-molecular-weight adiponectin, GDF15; and body composition (by absorptiometry) at birth, and at age 4, 12 and 24 months. Results GDF15 levels at birth were significantly higher than those at each subsequent time point and were similar in AGA and SGA subjects. GDF15 concentrations dropped at age 4 months, more substantially in SGA infants, and continued to decline in both subgroups reaching adult concentrations by age 24 months. GDF15 levels correlated inversely with the changes in PI, IGF-I and body fat throughout follow-up. Conclusions Early life is associated with supra-adult concentrations of GDF15. The lower levels of GDF15 in SGA subjects may be an adaptive mechanism to promote catch-up in weight and might increase the risk for obesity later in life. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/26509-8 - Molecular and cellular bases of alterations in signaling cross-talk in relation to adipose and metabolic dysfunction
• Grantee: Mariana Palma Guimarães
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate