GDF15 knockdown promotes erastin-induced ferroptosis by decreasing SLC7A11 expression

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death. GDF15 affects various properties of cancer cells, but the role of GDF15 in ferroptosis has not been reported. In the present study, we found that GDF15 knockdown led to decreased expression of SLC7A11, which is a key component of system Xc− and a regulator of ferroptosis, indicating that GDF15 might play important roles in ferroptosis. CCK8 assay showed that GDF15 knockdown promoted erastin-induced ferroptosis in MGC803 cells. qRT-PCR and western blotting results demonstrated that GDF15 inhibition attenuated the increased SLC7A11 expression induced by erastin. Further study revealed that GDF15 knockdown promoted the decreased level of extracellular glutamate and intracellular GSH as well as the increased level of lipid ROS in the presence of erastin in MGC803 cells. Overall, the study shows that GDF15 knockdown promotes erastin-induced ferroptosis in MGC803 cells by attenuating the expression of SLC7A11 and the function of system Xc−.