Endocrine Abstracts

The health benefits of exercise are well-recognized and are observed across multiple organ systems. These beneficial effects reduce disease risk and mortality. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of exercise, however, remain poorly understood. With emergence of –omics technologies, the number of exercise-associated signalling molecules that have been identified has rapidly expanded. Signalling moieties released by skeletal muscle are defined as myokines. They can be released during acute and/or chronic exercise and exert their effects through endocrine, paracrine and/or autocrine pathways. Myokines have beneficial effects on the immune, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological systems. However, very few of them have been shown to target adipose tissue, in particular in humans. We recently identified Growth and Differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) as a novel myokine. GDF15 is rapidly released in response to muscle contraction to promote lipolysis in human white adipose tissue. Since GDF15 has emerged as an interesting anti-obesity therapy through its central effects on appetite suppression, potential peripheral effects should not be neglected.