Sex steroid hormones drive dimorphic responses in GDF15-deficient mouse models of cardiometabolic diseases.

ABSTRACT: Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) is recognized as a biomarker of cardiovascular disease, but its role in atherosclerosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of GDF15 in atherosclerosis by crossing GDF15-deficient mice with LDLr-/- mice. Male GDF15-/- LDLr-/- mice fed a Western diet developed less atherosclerotic lesions than littermate controls despite exhibiting a pro-obesogenic phenotype, whereas GDF15 deficiency did not affect metabolism or lesion development in females. Plasma GDF15 levels were higher in male LDLr-/- mice than in females but were comparable to those measured in ovariectomized LDLr-/- females. Importantly, ovariectomy in females induced metabolic and vascular phenotypes similar to those of GDF15-/- LDLr-/- males, while gonadectomy in males had no eff

SUBMITTER: Davezac M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12379126 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature