Appetite-suppressing hormone may protect liver from inflammation through newly discovered signaling pathway

Scientists at McMaster University have uncovered a novel connection between a hormone known for appetite suppression and the protection of the liver from inflammation. Published in Cell Metabolism on August 10, 2026, the study reveals that GDF15, a naturally occurring hormone, can mitigate liver inflammation and slow the progression of liver scarring, independent of weight loss.

This discovery challenges previous beliefs about the hormone's function and suggests potential new treatment avenues for advanced fatty liver disease. GDF15, typically associated with weight loss, was found to activate a brain-to-liver signaling pathway that releases glucocorticoids, steroid hormones crucial for metabolism, immune function, and stress response.

These glucocorticoids help dampen liver inflammation, a process that occurs regardless of dietary intake, body weight, or liver fat levels. The research, conducted using mouse models of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), also indicates that GDF15 can limit liver fibrosis, the accumulation of scar tissue linked to advanced disease.

The findings, led by Gregory Steinberg and Dongdong Wang, suggest that GDF15 may play a protective role in the liver's immune system, shifting immune cells into a less inflammatory state. The researchers propose that this newly identified pathway could lead to new therapies targeting liver inflammation, a major factor in disease progression that currently lacks effective treatments.