GDF11 Decreases Pressure Overload–Induced Hypertrophy, but Can Cause Severe Cachexia and Premature Death

Abstract

Although GDF11 treatment can reduce pathological cardiac hypertrophy and associated fibrosis while improving cardiac pump function in pressure overload, high doses of GDF11 cause severe cachexia and death. Use of GDF11 as a therapy could have potentially devastating actions on the heart and other tissues.