ReviewCirculation research2016
Biochemistry and Biology of GDF11 and Myostatin: Similarities, Differences, and Questions for Future Investigation.
Open access · bronzeAbstract readComparative StudyReview
In one paragraph
Review in Circulation research, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 124 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
124citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
13.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
124 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 198 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Serum proteins associated with LDL-C and non-HDL-C reduction in response to dietary interventions in the DASH and DASH-Sodium trials.Food & function · 2025Trial
- Age Trends in Growth and Differentiation Factor-11 and Myostatin Levels in Healthy Men, and Differential Response to Testosterone, Measured Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2022Trial
- Locally acting ACE-083 increases muscle volume in healthy volunteers.Muscle & nerve · 2018Trial
- Lifelong exercise, but not short-term high-intensity interval training, increases GDF11, a marker of successful aging: a preliminary investigation.Physiological reports · 2017Trial
- Minimalist d‑Tripeptide Prodrug Mimetics of the Myostatin Prodomain as Selective Inhibitors of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Signaling.ACS medicinal chemistry letters · 2026Article
- Genome-Wide Characterization of the Myostatin Gene (MSTN) Ligand-Receptor System and Its Expression Patterns Associated with Growth Variation inInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Growth Differentiation Factor 11 Is a Circulating Regulator of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and CNS Myelin Formation and Repair.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2026Article
- Association of serum growth differentiation factor 11 with asthma severity, inflammation, and airway remodeling in pediatric patients.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Harnessing myostatin pleiotropy for multitrait improvement via precision gene editing.Frontiers in genome editing · 2026Review
- Risk factors for mortality in patients with kidney failure on hemodialysis identified by proteomic analysis of CRIC and PACE studies.Nature communications · 2025Article
- GDF11: A promising new drug target for pulmonary fibrosis?Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy · 2025Article
- Growth differentiation factor 11 attenuates sepsis-associated acute kidney injury by reducing inflammation and coagulation via PGC-1α/Nrf2 activation.Cellular & molecular biology letters · 2025Article
- Activated GDF11/8 subforms predict cardiovascular events and mortality in humans.Nature communications · 2025Article
- GDF11 protects against mitochondrial-dysfunction-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation to attenuate osteoarthritis.Journal of advanced research · 2025Article
- GDF11 Regulates M1 and M2 Polarization of BV2 Microglial Cells via p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Article
- Therapeutic applications and challenges in myostatin inhibition for enhanced skeletal muscle mass and functions.Molecular and cellular biochemistry · 2025Review
- Iron homeostasis and ferroptosis in muscle diseases and disorders: mechanisms and therapeutic prospects.Bone research · 2025Review
- Systemic inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein 1.3 as a possible treatment for laminin-related congenital muscular dystrophy.International orthopaedics · 2025Review
- Pathomechanisms of Monoallelic variants in TTN causing skeletal muscle disease.Human molecular genetics · 2024Article
64 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Ryan G WalkerFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Tommaso PoggioliFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Lida KatsimpardiFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Sean M BuchananFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Juhyun OhFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Sam WattrusFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Bettina HeideckerFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Yick W FongFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Lee L RubinFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Peter GanzFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Thomas B ThompsonFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
Amy J WagersFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.). RLee@bwh.harvard.edu amy_wagers@harvard.edu.
Richard T LeeFrom the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.). RLee@bwh.harvard.edu amy_wagers@harvard.edu.
University of California, San Francisco · USJoslin Diabetes Center · USHarvard University · USInstitut Pasteur · FRBrigham and Women's Hospital · USUniversity of Cincinnati · US
Funding
TRAINING IN DIABETES AND METABOLISMT32DK007260 · NIDDK · JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER · PI LAURIE J GOODYEAR · 1986 to 2026
$13.6MRegulation and Function of Growth Differentiation Factor 11 During Development and AgingR01AG048917 · NIA · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · PI WAGERS, AMY JO · 2016 to 2020
$2.8MReversing age-related dysfunction of skeletal muscle stem cellsR01AG033053 · NIA · JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER · PI WAGERS, AMY JO · 2009 to 2014
$2.0MAging and Myocardial Progenitor RecruitmentR01AG032977 · NIA · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI LEE, RICHARD T · 2009 to 2013
$1.9MCardiomyocyte Lineage and Turnover by Metabolic Fate-MappingR01AG040019 · NIA · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI LEE, RICHARD T · 2011 to 2015
$1.9MA New Pathway for Reversing Cardiac AgingR01AG047131 · NIA · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · PI LEE, RICHARD T · 2015 to 2019
$1.7MStructure-Function Investigation of DAN-mediated BMP AntagonismR01GM114640 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · PI THOMPSON, THOMAS B · 2015 to 2018
$1.7MEngineering a Cell-Based Glucose MonitorDP3DK101024 · NIDDK · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI LEE, RICHARD T · 2013 to 2013
$1.3MCirculating FSTL3 and Age-related Cardiac HypertrophyR03AG049657 · NIA · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · PI LEE, RICHARD T · 2015 to 2016
$339kRegulation and function of Growth Differentiation Factor 11 during development and agingR56AG048917 · NIA · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · PI WAGERS, AMY JO · 2015 to 2015
$338kNIA NIH HHS R01 AG032977NIA NIH HHS R01AG032977NIA NIH HHS R01 AG033053NIA NIH HHS R01 AG040019NIA NIH HHS R01AG040019NIA NIH HHS R01 AG047131NIA NIH HHS R01 AG048917NIA NIH HHS R03 AG049657NIA NIH HHS R03AG049657NIA NIH HHS R56 AG048917NIDDK NIH HHS DP3 DK101024NIDDK NIH HHS T32 DK007260NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM114640NIGMS NIH HHS R01GM114640
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and myostatin (or GDF8) are closely related members of the transforming growth factor β superfamily and are often perceived to serve similar or overlapping roles. Yet, despite commonalities in protein sequence, receptor utilization and signaling, accumulating evidence suggests that these 2 ligands can have distinct functions in many situations. GDF11 is essential for mammalian development and has been suggested to regulate aging of multiple tissues, whereas myostatin is a well-described negative regulator of postnatal skeletal and cardiac muscle mass and modulates metabolic processes. In this review, we discuss the biochemical regulation of GDF11 and myostatin and their functions in the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. We also highlight recent clinical findings with respect to a potential role for GDF11 and/or myostatin in humans with heart disease. Finally, we address key outstanding questions related to GDF11 and myostatin dynamics and signaling during development, growth, and aging.
Indexed as
AdultAgingAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBone Morphogenetic ProteinsBrainDimerizationFemaleFollistatinFollistatin-Related ProteinsGrowth Differentiation FactorsHeartHeart DiseasesHumansMaleMiceBone Morphogenetic ProteinsFollistatinFollistatin-Related ProteinsFstl3 protein, humanFST protein, humanGDF11 protein, humanGdf11 protein, mouseGdf11 protein, ratGrowth Differentiation FactorsMSTN protein, humanMstn protein, mouseMyostatinheart diseaseligandsmusclemyocardium
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