Method of treating or ameliorating metabolic disorders using growth differentiation factor 15 (gdf-15)

Abstract

Methods of treating metabolic diseases and disorders using a GDF15 polypeptide are provided. In various embodiments the metabolic disease or disorder is type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated glucose levels, elevated insulin levels and diabetic nephropathy.

1 . A method of improving glucose tolerance in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated human GDF15 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, and wherein administration of the polypeptide improves glucose tolerance in the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has type 2 diabetes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has dyslipidemia. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is obese. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has diabetic nephropathy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has a fasting blood glucose level of greater than or equal to 100 mg/dL. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GDF15 protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GDF15 polypeptide is encoded by SEQ ID NO: 9. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GDF15 polypeptide is administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the GDF15 polypeptide in admixture with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining the subject's blood glucose level at a timepoint subsequent to the administration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining the subject's serum insulin level at a timepoint subsequent to the administration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the GDF15 polypeptide is encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 5, respectively.