Deficiency of GDF-11 Accelerates TAC-Induced Heart Failure by Impairing Cardiac Angiogenesis

The role of growth differentiation factor (GDF)-11 in cardiac diseases has not been fully determined. Our study revealed that GDF-11 is not essential for myocardial development and physiological growth, whereas its absence exacerbates heart failure under pressure overload condition via impairing the responsive angiogenesis. GDF-11 induced VEGF expression in CMs by activating the Akt/mTOR pathway. The effect of endogenous GDF-11 on the heart belongs to local self-regulation of myocardial tissue, rather than a way of systemic regulation.