JOURNAL OF SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY (MEDICAL SCIENCE) ›› 2021, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 834-838.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2021.06.023

• Review • Previous Articles    

Advances in the role of growth differentiation factor 11 in cardiovascular diseases

Ming-qi CAI1(), Yan CHEN2, Kai-bin LIN1, Dong HUANG1()   

  1. 1.Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
    2.Department of Critical Care Medicine, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai 200050, China
  • Online:2021-06-28 Published:2021-06-29
  • Contact: Dong HUANG E-mail:cai_mingqi0123@163.com;huangdong1004@126.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(81871102)

Abstract:

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is an important member of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily. As a secreted protein widely distributed in human body, it is associated with many physiological activities, including early embryonic and bone development, neural regulation, and maturation of tissues and organs such as retina and kidney. Recent studies have shown that GDF11 is closely related to aging and cardiovascular diseases, but its specific effects and mechanism are controversial. Some studies have drawn the conclusions that increased levels of GDF11 can reduce myocardial hypertrophy, alleviate inflammatory damage and protect the function of vascular endothelial cells. Meanwhile, some studies have reached the opposite conclusions. So the issue that whether GDF11 has a protective effect on cardiovascular diseases remains uncertain. This article reviews the research progress and essential divergence of GDF11 in the field of cardiovascular diseases, in order to provide reference for future investigation.

Key words: growth differentiation factor 11, cardiovascular diseases, cardiac hypertrophy, aging

CLC Number: