Abstract P330: Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Causes Cardiac Cachexia In Heart Failure

Background: Cachexia is wasting of normal body tissue and occurs in chronic medical diseases. It is a common complication of heart failure (HF) that is associated with very high mortality. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) regulates food intake and can cause cancer cachexia. GDF15 is a sensitive biomarker in humans, though its biologic function in HF is unknown. This study investigated the role of GDF15 in HF. Methods: We utilized a genetic mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) caused by a mutation in the phospholamban gene (PLN R9C ). PLN R9C mice have dysregulated cardiac calcium handling (a common feature of nearly all forms of HF) and develop progressive DCM that leads to HF and premature death. Q-PCR and ELISA were performed to assess expression, tissue distribution and circulating levels of GDF15 in PLN R9C and age-matched wild type (WT) mice. A double transgenic mouse was created by crossing our DCM model with a constitutive Gdf15 knock-out (KO). Using this novel model, we quantified food intake, and assessed fat and lean tissue mass by tissue weight at necropsy and by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography, and histochemistry performed to quantify cardiac fibrosis. Survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier. Results: GDF15 mRNA (43-fold; p<0.01) and protein (54-fold; p<0.01) were increased in LV tissue, and circulating GDF15 was elevated (8.3-fold; p=0.03) in PLN R9C mice. Gdf15 was expressed at low levels and was not increased in other organs in PLN R9C mice. PLN R9C mice developed cachexia (reduced fat and lean mass by tissue weight, reduced fat mass by DXA vs. WT; p<0.01 for all) and consumed less food (p<0.01 vs. WT). Gdf15 KO in PLN R9C preserved fat and lean tissue mass and resulted in higher food intake (p≤0.01 for all). Gdf15 KO had no effect on cardiac structure or function by echocardiography and PLN R9C / Gdf15 KO mice displayed only a small reduction in cardiac fibrosis relative to PLN R9C mice (3%; p<0.01). Despite this, Gdf15 KO prolonged survival in PLN R9C (29±3 vs. 25±3 weeks; p<0.01). Conclusions: GDF15 is a novel cardiac hormone produced in HF that triggers anorexia and cachexia in HF by an extra-cardiac mechanism.