Through thick and thin: a circulating growth factor inhibits age-related cardiac hypertrophy.
In an intriguing new study, Loffredo et al report that joining the circulation of old mice with that of young mice reduces age-related cardiac hypertrophy. They also found that the growth factor growth/differentiation factor 11 is a circulating negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy which suggests that raising growth/differentiation factor 11 levels may be useful to treat cardiac hypertrophy associated with aging.
Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. mcpherrona@niddk.nih.gov
Alexandra C
AC
McPherron
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism*; D010227:Parabiosis
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors