B6-hGDF15 Mouse

The Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) gene encodes a secreted ligand of the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily protein. This protein plays a crucial role in the TGFβ signaling pathway, which is integral to various cellular processes ^[1]. GDF15 is involved in the body’s response to stress following cell damage. It is associated with tissue hypoxia, inflammation, acute injury, and oxidative stress, among other disease states. Elevated levels of GDF15 in the serum are considered a potential biomarker for the progression of cancer, as it is overexpressed in various types of tumor cells, including colon, prostate, pancreatic, breast, and thyroid cancers ^[2-3]. Interestingly, GDF15 is not solely a pathological biomarker. Despite its association with disease states, it also exhibits high expression under various non-pathological conditions. Studies suggest that GDF15 may exert a protective effect on the heart, liver, kidney, and lungs following inflammation and injury, highlighting its potential role in tissue repair and recovery ^[4].

GDF15 is an important biomarker for metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, tumors, and more, and holds potential as a therapeutic target. It can induce anorexia by activating the GFRAL-RET receptor in the brainstem, making it a promising target for anti-obesity therapy ^[5]. Furthermore, GDF15 neutralization could potentially alleviate anorexia and weight loss, common side effects of platinum-based chemotherapy ^[6]. Research has shown that a therapeutic antagonistic monoclonal antibody can inhibit RET signal transduction by blocking the interaction between GDF15-driven RET and cell surface GFRAL. This could reverse excessive lipid oxidation in tumor-bearing mice and prevent cancer cachexia ^[7]. The potential of GDF15 as a therapeutic target is being increasingly recognized in the scientific community. In this context, the construction of animal gene humanization models for this target is of significant importance, providing a crucial tool for further research and development in this area.

This strain is a mouse Gdf15 gene humanized model expressing human GDF15 protein obtained by replacing the sequence encoding the endogenous structural domain in the mouse Gdf15 gene with the sequence encoding the structural domain in the human GDF15 gene. B6-hGDF15 mice can be used for research on metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, tumor occurrence and development, etc., to assist in the preclinical evaluation of GDF15-targeted drugs.