title: Growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11): Functions in the regulation of erythropoiesis and cardiac regeneration.
abstract: Members of the TGF-β superfamily transduce their signals through type I and II receptor serine/threonine kinases. The regulation of members of the TGF-β family is known to be complex, because many proteins able to bind the ligands and inhibit their activities have been identified. Growth and differentiation factor 11 (Gdf11) as activins belong to the TGF-β family. GDF11, like other members of the TGF-β superfamily, is produced from precursor proteins by proteolytic processing. The binding of activins to activin type IIA (ActRIIA) or type IIB (ActRIIB) receptors induces the recruitment and phosphorylation of an activin type I receptor which then phosphorylates the Smad2 and Smad3 intracellular signaling proteins. GDF11 signal through the ActRIIB pathway. Recent studies have reported that GDF11-ActRIIB-Smad2/3-dependent signaling is a key regulatory mechanism in proliferating erythroid precursors as it controls their late-stage maturation. The administration of GDF11 is effective in experimental cardiac hypertrophy, and the identification of GDF11 as a "rejuvenating factor" opens up perspectives for the treatment of age-related cardiac dysfunction. Recent studies of the heart indicate that exposure to young blood reverses age-related impairments. GDF11 could be one of the circulating molecules that influence the aging of different tissues. Is GDF11 an "elixir of youth"?
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR866, Université de Bourgogne, Facultés des Sciences de Santé, 7 Boulevard Jeanne d'Arc, 21033 Dijon Cedex, France. Electronic address: Luc.Rochette@u-bourgogne.fr.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rochette
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR866, Université de Bourgogne, Facultés des Sciences de Santé, 7 Boulevard Jeanne d'Arc, 21033 Dijon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR866, Université de Bourgogne, Facultés des Sciences de Santé, 7 Boulevard Jeanne d'Arc, 21033 Dijon Cedex, France; Service de Cardiologie -CHU-Dijon, INSERM UMR866, Université de Bourgogne, Facultés des Sciences de Santé, 7 Boulevard Jeanne d'Arc, 21033 Dijon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cottin
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR866, Université de Bourgogne, Facultés des Sciences de Santé, 7 Boulevard Jeanne d'Arc, 21033 Dijon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vergely
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C492266:GDF11 protein, human; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D028341:Activins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C425423:ACVR1 protein, human; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I
keywords: Cardiac regeneration; Erythropoiesis; GDF11