GDF11 Levels Correlate with Mouse Strain Life Spans and are Strongly Heritable

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Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a protein that appears connected to regulation of stem cell activity in response to rising levels of cell and tissue damage that occur with aging. GDF11 levels fall with aging, as does stem cell activity, and increased GDF11 has been shown to increase stem cell activity in aged mice, producing benefits to health and organ function. There is still some debate over exactly what is going on under the hood in the GDF11 studies carried out to date, and whether researchers are correctly interpreting the results, however. A number of groups are presently exploring the molecular and genetic mechanisms that determine variations in GDF11 levels, with an eye towards the goal of therapies that can compensate for falling levels in aged individuals, and here is news of recent research on this topic:

Previous studies have found that blood levels of this hormone, growth differentiation factor 11, decrease over time. Restoration of GDF11 reverses cardiovascular aging in old mice and leads to muscle and brain rejuvenation. Scientists have now discovered that levels of this hormone are determined by genetics, representing another potential mechanism by which aging is encoded in the genome. Future studies will seek to reveal why GDF11 levels decrease later in life and whether they can be sustained to prevent disease. "Finding that GDF11 levels are under genetic control is of significant interest. Since it is under genetic control, we can find the genes responsible for GDF11 levels and its changes with age."
The study confirmed results from previous experiments showing that GDF11 levels decrease over time and also showed that most of the depletion occurs by middle age. In addition, the study examined the relationship between GDF11 levels and markers of aging such as lifespan in 22 genetically diverse inbred mice strains. Of note, the strains with the highest GDF11 levels tended to live the longest. Using gene mapping, the researchers then identified seven candidate genes that may determine blood GDF11 concentrations at middle age, demonstrating for the first time that GDF11 levels are highly heritable. "Essentially, we found a missing piece of the aging/genetics puzzle. Very generally, we've made an important step toward learning about aging and why we age and what are the pathways that drive it. It's the first step down a long road, but it's an important step."

Link: http://news.uga.edu/releases/article/link-between-genetics-aging-0216/