GDF11

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) also known as bone morphogenetic protein 11 (BMP-11) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GDF11 gene.

It acts as a cytokine.

The BMP group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site, which is cleaved to produce a protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. GDF11 is a myostatin-homologous protein that acts as an inhibitor of nerve tissue growth. GDF11 has been shown to suppress neurogenesis through a pathway similar to that of myostatin, including stopping the progenitor cell-cycle during G-phase. The similarities between GDF11 and myostatin imply a likelihood that the same regulatory mechanisms are used to control tissue size during both muscular and neural development.

In 2014, GDF11 was described as an anti-aging factor in two publications based on the results of a parabiosis experiments with mice that were chosen as Science's scientific breakthrough of the year. Later studies questioned these findings. Researchers disagree on the selectivity of the tests used to measure GDF11 and on the activity of GDF11 from various commercially-available sources. The full relationship of GDF11 to aging—and any possible differences in the action of GDF11 in mice, rats, and humans—is unclear and continues to be researched.

Effects on cell growth and differentiation

GDF11 belongs to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily that controls anterior-posterior patterning by regulating the expression of Hox genes. It determines Hox gene expression domains and rostrocaudal identity in the caudal spinal cord.

During mouse development, GDF11 expression begins in the tail bud and caudal neural plate region. GDF knock-out mice display skeletal defects as a result of patterning problems with anterior-posterior positioning.

In the mouse adult central nervous system, GDF11 alone can improve the cerebral vasculature and enhance neurogenesis.

This cytokine also inhibits the proliferation of olfactory receptor neuron progenitors to regulate the number of olfactory receptor neurons occurring in the olfactory epithelium, and controls the competence of progenitor cells to regulate numbers of retinal ganglionic cells developing in the retina. Other studies in mice suggest that GDF11 is involved in mesodermal formation and neurogenesis during embryonic development. The members of this TGF-β superfamily are involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation not only in embryonic tissues, but adult tissues as well.

GDF11 can bind type I TGF-beta superfamily receptors ACVR1B (ALK4), TGFBR1 (ALK5) and ACVR1C (ALK7), but predominantly uses ALK4 and ALK5 for signal transduction.

GDF11 is closely related to myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle growth. Both myostatin and GDF11 are involved in the regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation. GDF11 is also a negative regulator of neurogenesis, the production of islet progenitor cells, the regulation of kidney organogenesis, pancreatic development, the rostro-caudal patterning in the development of spinal cords, and is a negative regulator of chondrogenesis.

Due to the similarities between myostatin and GDF11, the actions of GDF11 are likely regulated by WFIKKN2, a large extracellular multidomain protein consisting of follistatin, immunoglobulin, protease inhibitor, and NTR domains. WFIKKN2 has a high affinity for GDF11, and previously has been found to inhibit the biological activities of myostatin.

Effect on cardiac and skeletal muscle aging

GDF11 has been identified as a blood circulating factor that has the ability to reverse age-related cardiac hypertrophy in mice. GDF11 gene expression and protein abundance decreases with age, and it shows differential abundance between young and old mice in parabiosis procedures, causing youthful regeneration of cardiomyocytes, a reduction in the Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and in the Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). GDF11 also causes an increase in expression of SERCA-2, an enzyme necessary for relaxation during diastolic functions. GDF11 activates the TGF-β pathway in cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells and suppresses the phosphorylation of Forkhead (FOX proteins) transcription factors. These effects suggest an "anti-hypertrophic effect", aiding in the reversal process of age-related hypertrophy, on the cardiomyocytes. In 2014, peripheral supplementation of GDF11 protein (in mice) was shown to ameliorate the age-related dysfunction of skeletal muscle by rescuing the function of aged muscle stem cells, claiming that GDF11 may be an anti-aging rejuvenation factor.

These previous findings have been disputed since another publication has demonstrated the contrary, concluding that GDF11 increases with age and has deleterious effects on skeletal muscle regeneration, being a pro-aging factor, with very high levels in some aged individuals. However, in October 2015, these contrary results have been shown to be the result of a flawed assay that was detecting immunoglobulin and not GDF11. The newer Harvard study claimed GDF11 does in fact reverse age-related cardiac hypertrophy. However this newer study both ignored the GDF11-specific assay that was developed, establishing that GDF11 in mice is undetectable, and that the factor measured was in fact myosatin. Also, the newer study combined the measure of GDF11 and GDF8 (myostatin), using a non-specific antibody, further confusing matters. More research is needed in this area.

External links

• GDF11 human gene location in the UCSC Genome Browser.
• GDF11 human gene details in the UCSC Genome Browser.