Growth Differentiation Factor 15, a Marker of Lung Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis, Is Involved in Fibrosis Development but Is not Indispensable for Fibrosis Development

Abstract

An intriguing profile of serum GDF-15 levels was found in SSc patients. GDF-15 expression is induced during fibrosis development and markedly correlates with lung function impairment in this disease. The protein may participate in fibrosis initiation, but is not indispensable in the course of fibrosis development in vivo.