GDF15 induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity in A549 cells depends on TGFBR2 expression

GDF15 plays a paradoxical role during carcinogenesis; it inhibits tumour growth in the early stages and promotes tumour cell proliferation in the late stages of cancer. Besides, GDF15 can induce apoptosis in some cancer cells including A549 but not in some others. Moreover, as a potential receptor for GDF15, TGFBR2 is inactivated during carcinogenesis in many types of cancers, and it is not present in cells with no GDF15 induced apoptosis. Thus, we tested whether GDF15 overexpression and/or TGFBR2 silencing can affect the GDF15 induced apoptosis in A549 cells. The full and mature forms of GDF15 were cloned and overexpressed in A549 cells. The TGFBR2 was silenced using specific siRNA and confirmed by real-time PCR. Results indicated that overexpression of full and mature forms of GDF15 as well as TGFBR2 knocked down reduced A549 cell viability in 24 and 48 hours. Flow cytometric analysis of annexin V/PI indicated induction of apoptosis in A549 cells by overexpression of GDF15 or silencing TGFBR2. Interestingly, the silencing of TGFBR2 inhibited the GDF15 induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in A549 cells. Overexpression of GDF15 activated caspase-9 and caspase-3 and inhibited ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation in A549 cells. TGFBR2 knocked down inhibited GDF15 effects on caspases, ERK1/2, and p38MAPK activation. Our results indicated that the effect of GDF15 on apoptosis and activation of MAPK in A549 cells depends on TGFBR2 expression. These findings may point to mechanisms in which GDF15 exerts dual effect during carcinogenesis with regard to TGFBR2 expression. Significance of the study: GDF15 plays a tumour suppressor or promotor roles during carcinogenesis. The expression of GDF15 induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and inhibition of MAPK in A549 cells. All these effects were blocked by silencing TGFBR2 expression. These findings may point to mechanisms in which GDF15 exerts dual effect during carcinogenesis with regard to TGFBR2 expression. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd