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Kraler S, Balbi C, Vdovenko D, Lapikova-Bryhinska T, Camici GG, Liberale L, Bonetti N, Canestro CD, Burger F, Roth A, Carbone F, Vassalli G, Mach F, Bhasin S, Wenzl FA, Muller O, Räber L, Matter CM, Montecucco F, Lüscher TF, Akhmedov A. Circulating GDF11 exacerbates myocardial injury in mice and associates with increased infarct size in humans. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:2729-2742. [PMID: 37742057 PMCID: PMC10757585 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The heart rejuvenating effects of circulating growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), a transforming growth factor-β superfamily member that shares 90% homology with myostatin (MSTN), remains controversial. Here, we aimed to probe the role of GDF11 in acute myocardial infarction (MI), a frequent cause of heart failure and premature death during ageing. METHODS AND RESULTS In contrast to endogenous Mstn, myocardial Gdf11 declined during the course of ageing and was particularly reduced following ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, suggesting a therapeutic potential of GDF11 signalling in MI. Unexpectedly, boosting systemic Gdf11 by recombinant GDF11 delivery (0.1 mg/kg body weight over 30 days) prior to myocardial I/R augmented myocardial infarct size in C57BL/6 mice irrespective of their age, predominantly by accelerating pro-apoptotic signalling. While intrinsic cardioprotective signalling pathways remained unaffected by high circulating GDF11, targeted transcriptomics and immunomapping studies focusing on GDF11-associated downstream targets revealed attenuated Nkx2-5 expression confined to CD105-expressing cells, with pro-apoptotic activity, as assessed by caspase-3 levels, being particularly pronounced in adjacent cells, suggesting an indirect effect. By harnessing a highly specific and validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based assay, we show that in prospectively recruited patients with MI circulating GDF11 but not MSTN levels incline with age. Moreover, GDF11 levels were particularly elevated in those at high risk for adverse outcomes following the acute event, with circulating GDF11 emerging as an independent predictor of myocardial infarct size, as estimated by standardized peak creatine kinase-MB levels. CONCLUSION Our data challenge the initially reported heart rejuvenating effects of circulating GDF11 and suggest that high levels of systemic GDF11 exacerbate myocardial injury in mice and humans alike. Persistently high GDF11 levels during ageing may contribute to the age-dependent loss of cardioprotective mechanisms and thus poor outcomes of elderly patients following acute MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kraler
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
| | - Carolina Balbi
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiology, Cardiocentro Ticino Institute, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
- Laboratories for Translational Research, EOC, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Daria Vdovenko
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
| | | | - Giovanni G Camici
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
- Department of Research and Education, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Luca Liberale
- First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova—Italian Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicole Bonetti
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
- University Heart Center, Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Candela Diaz Canestro
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Burger
- Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Research, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aline Roth
- Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Research, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Federico Carbone
- First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova—Italian Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vassalli
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiology, Cardiocentro Ticino Institute, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
- Laboratories for Translational Research, EOC, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - François Mach
- Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Research, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Shalender Bhasin
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Florian A Wenzl
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Muller
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Räber
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian M Matter
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
- University Heart Center, Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio Montecucco
- First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Genova—Italian Cardiovascular Network, Genoa, Italy
| | - Thomas F Lüscher
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
- Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals and Imperial College and Kings College, London, UK
| | - Alexander Akhmedov
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Zurich CH-8952, Switzerland
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Cawthon PM, Patel S, Newman AB, Bhasin S, Peng L, Tracy RP, Kizer JR, Lee SJ, Ferrucci L, Ganz P, LeBrasseur NK, Cummings SR. Evaluation of Associations of Growth Differentiation Factor-11, Growth Differentiation Factor-8, and Their Binding Proteins, Follistatin and Follistatin-Like Protein-3, With Measures of Skeletal Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength, and Physical Function in Older Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:2051-2059. [PMID: 36752218 PMCID: PMC10613016 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on studies from animal models, growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF-11) may have rejuvenating effects in humans. GDF-11 has high sequence homology with GDF-8 (also known as myostatin); follistatin and follistatin-like protein-3 (FSTL-3) are inhibitory proteins of both GDF-8 and GDF-11. METHODS Using highly specific liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry assays for GDF-11 and GDF-8 and immunoassays for follistatin and FSTL-3, we quantified the association of these factors with muscle size, strength, and physical performance in 2 prospective cohort studies of community-dwelling older adults (Health, Aging, and Body Composition study [Health ABC] and Cardiovascular Health Study [CHS]). RESULTS GDF-8 levels were positively associated with thigh muscle cross-sectional area and density in Health ABC (data not available in CHS). GDF-8 levels were positively associated with lean mass (a surrogate of muscle mass) in Health ABC but not CHS, and grip strength in CHS but not Health ABC. FSTL-3 (and perhaps follistatin) was negatively associated with lean mass and had variable associations with other variables. In contrast, GDF-11 was not significantly associated with strength or performance. CONCLUSIONS GDF-8 and its binding proteins, follistatin and FSTL-3, may constitute a counterregulatory system (chalones) to restrain age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy M Cawthon
- Research Institute, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California,USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sheena Patel
- Research Institute, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California,USA
| | - Anne B Newman
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,USA
| | - Shalender Bhasin
- Research Program in Men’s Health: Aging and Metabolism; Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liming Peng
- Research Program in Men’s Health: Aging and Metabolism; Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Russell P Tracy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont,USA
| | - Jorge R Kizer
- Cardiology Section, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California,USA
| | - Se-Jin Lee
- The Jackson Laboratory and University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Office of the Scientific Director, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland,USA
| | - Peter Ganz
- Cardiology Division, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California,USA
| | - Nathan K LeBrasseur
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Steven R Cummings
- Research Institute, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California,USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Driss LB, Lian J, Walker RG, Howard JA, Thompson TB, Rubin LL, Wagers AJ, Lee RT. GDF11 and aging biology - controversies resolved and pending. THE JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR AGING 2023; 3:42. [PMID: 38235060 PMCID: PMC10793994 DOI: 10.20517/jca.2023.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Since the exogenous administration of GDF11, a TGF-ß superfamily member, was reported to have beneficial effects in some models of human disease, there have been many research studies in GDF11 biology. However, many studies have now confirmed that exogenous administration of GDF11 can improve physiology in disease models, including cardiac fibrosis, experimental stroke, and disordered metabolism. GDF11 is similar to GDF8 (also called Myostatin), differing only by 11 amino acids in their mature signaling domains. These two proteins are now known to be biochemically different both in vitro and in vivo. GDF11 is much more potent than GDF8 and induces more strongly SMAD2 phosphorylation in the myocardium compared to GDF8. GDF8 and GDF11 prodomain are only 52% identical and are cleaved by different Tolloid proteases to liberate the mature signaling domain from inhibition of the prodomain. Here, we review the state of GDF11 biology, highlighting both resolved and remaining controversies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ben Driss
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - John Lian
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Ryan G. Walker
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - James A. Howard
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Thomas B. Thompson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Lee L. Rubin
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Amy J. Wagers
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richard T. Lee
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Lian J, Walker RG, D'Amico A, Vujic A, Mills MJ, Messemer KA, Mendello KR, Goldstein JM, Leacock KA, Epp S, Stimpfl EV, Thompson TB, Wagers AJ, Lee RT. Functional substitutions of amino acids that differ between GDF11 and GDF8 impact skeletal development and skeletal muscle. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201662. [PMID: 36631218 PMCID: PMC9834663 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and GDF8 (MSTN) are closely related TGF-β family proteins that interact with nearly identical signaling receptors and antagonists. However, GDF11 appears to activate SMAD2/3 more potently than GDF8 in vitro and in vivo. The ligands possess divergent structural properties, whereby substituting unique GDF11 amino acids into GDF8 enhanced the activity of the resulting chimeric GDF8. We investigated potentially distinct endogenous activities of GDF11 and GDF8 in vivo by genetically modifying their mature signaling domains. Full recoding of GDF8 to that of GDF11 yielded mice lacking GDF8, with GDF11 levels ∼50-fold higher than normal, and exhibiting modestly decreased muscle mass, with no apparent negative impacts on health or survival. Substitution of two specific amino acids in the fingertip region of GDF11 with the corresponding GDF8 residues resulted in prenatal axial skeletal transformations, consistent with Gdf11-deficient mice, without apparent perturbation of skeletal or cardiac muscle development or homeostasis. These experiments uncover distinctive features between the GDF11 and GDF8 mature domains in vivo and identify a specific requirement for GDF11 in early-stage skeletal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Lian
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ryan G Walker
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrea D'Amico
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ana Vujic
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Melanie J Mills
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen A Messemer
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kourtney R Mendello
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jill M Goldstein
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Krystynne A Leacock
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Soraya Epp
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emma V Stimpfl
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Amy J Wagers
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard T Lee
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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