Growth differentiation factor 15 alters intestinal barrier and increases permeability: A new molecular target in inflammatory bowel disease

Figure 1 Circulating levels of growth differentiation factor 15. A: Plasma growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) levels in healthy controls (healthy controls, n = 23), inflammatory bowel disease patients (inflammatory bowel disease, n = 39), and myocardial infarction patients (myocardial infarction, n = 19). Data are presented using Tukey’s boxplots; B: Plasma GDF15 levels in healthy controls (healthy controls, n = 23), Crohn’s disease patients (n = 21), and ulcerative colitis patients (n = 18). Data are presented using Tukey’s boxplots; C: Correlation between plasma GDF15 levels and colonic GDF15 gene expression (n = 21 pairs). ^aP < 0.05 and ^cP < 0.001. HC: Healthy controls; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; MI: Myocardial infarction; CD: Crohn’s disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis.