GDF15 neutralization restores muscle function and physical performance in a mouse model of cancer cachexia

Cancer cachexia is a disorder characterized by both involuntary weight loss and impaired physical performance. Decline in physical performance of patients with cachexia is associated with poor quality of life, and currently there are no effective pharmacological interventions that restore physical performance. Here we examined the effect of GDF15 neutralization in a mouse model of cancer-induced cachexia (TOV21G) that manifested weight loss and muscle function impairments. With comprehensive assessments, our results demonstrated that cachectic mice treated with the anti-GDF15 antibody mAB2 exhibited body weight gain with near-complete restoration of muscle mass and markedly improved muscle function and physical performance. Mechanistically, the improvements induced by GDF15 neutralization were primarily attributed to increased caloric intake, while altered gene expressions in cachectic muscles were restored in both caloric intake-dependent and -independent manners. The findings implicate the potential of GDF15 neutralization as an effective therapy to enhance physical performance of patients with cachexia. Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data of gastrocnemius muscle from non-tumor bearing, IgG control or anti-GDF15 antibody mAB2 in the TOV21G model of cancer cachexia