GDF11 does not rescue aging-related pathological hypertrophy.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β super family of secreted factors. A recent study showed that reduced GDF11 blood levels with aging was associated with pathological cardiac hypertrophy (PCH) and restoring GDF11 to normal levels in old mice rescued PCH.

Objective

To determine whether and by what mechanism GDF11 rescues aging dependent PCH.

Methods and results

Twenty-four-month-old C57BL/6 mice were given a daily injection of either recombinant (r) GDF11 at 0.1 mg/kg or vehicle for 28 days. rGDF11 bioactivity was confirmed in vitro. After treatment, rGDF11 levels were significantly increased, but there was no significant effect on either heart weight or body weight. Heart weight/body weight ratios of old

SUBMITTER: Smith SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4636963 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature