@article {9481, title = {Circulating Growth Differentiation Factors 11 and 8, Their Antagonists Follistatin and Follistatin-like-3, and Risk of Heart Failure in Elders.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Aug 25}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Heterochronic parabiosis has identified growth differentiation factor (GDF)-11 as a potential means of cardiac rejuvenation, but findings have been inconsistent. A major barrier has been lack of assay specificity for GDF-11 and its homolog GDF-8.

METHODS: We tested the hypothesis that GDF-11 and GDF-8, and their major antagonists follistatin and follistatin-like (FSTL)-3, are associated with incident heart failure (HF) and its subtypes in elders. Based on validation experiments, we used liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to measure total serum GDF-11 and GDF-8, along with follistatin and follistatin-like (FSTL)-3 by immunoassay, in two longitudinal cohorts of older adults.

RESULTS: In 2,599 participants (age 75.2{\textpm}4.3) followed for 10.8{\textpm}5.6 years, 721 HF events occurred. After adjustment, neither GDF-11 (HR per doubling: 0.93 [0.67, 1.30]) nor GDF-8 (HR: 1.02 per doubling [0.83, 1.27]) was associated with incident HF or its subtypes. Positive associations with HF were detected for follistatin (HR: 1.15 [1.00, 1.32]) and FLST-3 (HR: 1.38 [1.03, 1.85]), and with HF with preserved ejection fraction for FSTL-3 (HR: 1.77 [1.03, 3.02]). (All HRs per doubling of biomarker.) FSTL-3 associations with HF appeared stronger at higher follistatin levels and vice versa, and also for men, Blacks and lower kidney function.

CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults, serum follistatin and FSTL-3, but not GDF-11 or GDF-8, were associated with incident HF. These findings do not support the concept that low serum levels of total GDF-11 or GDF-8 contribute to HF late in life, but do implicate transforming growth factor-βsuperfamily pathways as potential therapeutic targets.

}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glad206}, author = {Kizer, Jorge R and Patel, Sheena and Ganz, Peter and Newman, Anne B and Bhasin, Shalender and Lee, Se-Jin and Cawthon, Peggy M and LeBrasseur, Nathan and Shah, Sanjiv J and Psaty, Bruce M and Tracy, Russell P and Cummings, Steven R} }