Yifang Tang,1,* Tao Liu,2,* Shibo Sun,3 Youbo Peng,1 Xiaoxiao Huang,4 Shuangquan Wang,4 Zhu Zhou1 

1Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 2Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Nephrology, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture People’s Hospital, Xishuangbanna, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Zhu Zhou, Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University and Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Chronic Kidney Disease, No. 295, Xichang Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, People’s Republic of China, Email zhouzhu21@163.com Shibo Sun, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, No. 295, Xichang Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, People’s Republic of China, Email shibosunky@126.com

Abstract: GDF-15 is an essential member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. Its functions mainly involve in tissue injury, inflammation, fibrosis, regulation of appetite and weight, development of tumor, and cardiovascular disease. GDF-15 is involved in various signaling pathways, such as MAPK pathway, PI3K/AKT pathway, STAT3 pathway, RET pathway, and SMAD pathway. In addition, several factors such as p53, ROS, and TNF-α participate the regulation of GDF-15. However, the specific mechanism of these factors regulating GDF-15 is still unclear and more research is needed to explore them. GDF-15 mainly improves the function of kidneys in CKD and plays an important role in the prediction of CKD progression and cardiovascular complications. In addition, the role of GDF-15 in the kidney may be related to the SMAD and MAPK pathways. However, the specific mechanism of these pathways remains unclear. Accordingly, more research on the specific mechanism of GDF-15 affecting kidney disease is needed in the future. In conclusion, GDF-15 may be a therapeutic target for kidney disease.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease, GDF-15, biomarker, inflammation, renal protection