OBJECTIVE: GDF11 is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that was recently implicated as potential "rejuvenating" factor, which can ameliorate metabolic disorders. The main objective of the presented study was to closely characterize the role of GDF11 signaling in the glucose homeostasis and in the differentiation of white adipose tissue. METHODS: We performed microscopy imaging, biochemical and transcriptomic analyses of adipose tissues of 9 weeks old ob/ob mice and murine and human pre-adipocyte cell lines. RESULTS: Our in vivo experiments employing GDF11 treatment in ob/ob mice showed improved glucose/insulin homeostasis, decreased weight gain and white adipocyte size. Furthermore, GDF11 treatment inhibited adipogenesis in pre-adipocytes by ALK5-SMAD2/3 activation in cooperation with the WNT/β-catenin pathway, whose inhibition resulted in adipogenic differentiation. Lastly, we observed significantly elevated levels of the adipokine hormone adiponectin and increased glucose uptake by mature adipocytes upon GDF11 exposure. CONCLUSION: We show evidence that link GDF11 to adipogenic differentiation, glucose, and insulin homeostasis, which are pointing towards potential beneficial effects of GDF11-based "anti-obesity" therapy.

• MeSH
• adipogeneze * MeSH
• adiponektin metabolismus   MeSH
• beta-katenin * metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace fyziologie   MeSH
• glukosa metabolismus   MeSH
• inzulin metabolismus   MeSH
• kostní morfogenetické proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• protein Smad2 MeSH
• protein Smad3 MeSH
• receptory regulované proteiny Smad MeSH
• růstové diferenciační faktory metabolismus   MeSH
• signální dráha Wnt MeSH
• TGF-beta receptor I. typu MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta metabolismus   MeSH
• tukové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH