Abstract: Objective To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of growth differentiation factor 15(GDF15)in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)induced neuroinflammation associated with Parkinsons disease. Methods To explore the optimum time of LPS, BV2 cells were divided into blank, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h groups; to explore the optimum concentration of LPS, BV2 cells were divided into blank, 0.5, 1 and 2mg/mL groups; to explore the effect of GDF15, BV2 cells were divided into blank, LPS and LPS+GDF15 groups. The mice were divided into WT, WT+LPS and KO-LPS group. The protein expressions of STAT3, NF-κB and ERK were detected with Western blotting. The mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS and COX-2 were detected with qPCR. The effect of GDF15 on the morphology of LPS-induced BV2 cells was observed with a microscope. Results GDF-15 suppressed the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS and COX-2 by inhibiting the STAT3/NF-κB/ERK signaling pathway. In the substantia nigra and striatum of the GDF15 knockout mice, the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS and COX-2 increased. Conclusion GDF15 can attenuate the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS and COX-2 through STAT3/NF-κB/ERK signaling pathway, indicating it is a protective factor in the progression of Parkinsons disease. It can provide a new therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of this disease.

Key words: Growth differentiation factor 15, Parkinsons disease, Neuroinflammation, Signal pathway, Mice