GDF11 Decreases Bone Mass by Stimulating Osteoclastogenesis and Inhibiting Osteoblast Differentiation

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2016 Sep 23

PMID 27653144

Citations 76

Authors

Weiqing Liu

Liyan Zhou

Chenchen Zhou

Shiwen Zhang

Junjun Jing

Liang Xie

Ningyuan Sun

Xiaobo Duan

Wei Jing

Xing Liang

Hu Zhao

Ling Ye

Qianming Chen

Quan Yuan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Osteoporosis is an age-related disease that affects millions of people. Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a secreted member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily. Deletion of Gdf11 has been shown to result in a skeletal anterior-posterior patterning disorder. Here we show a role for GDF11 in bone remodelling. GDF11 treatment leads to bone loss in both young and aged mice. GDF11 inhibits osteoblast differentiation and also stimulates RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through Smad2/3 and c-Fos-dependent induction of Nfatc1. Injection of GDF11 impairs bone regeneration in mice and blocking GDF11 function prevents oestrogen-deficiency-induced bone loss and ameliorates age-related osteoporosis. Our data demonstrate that GDF11 is a previously unrecognized regulator of bone remodelling and suggest that GDF11 is a potential target for treatment of osteoporosis.

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