Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Differentiating Chondrocytes from Peripheral Blood-derived Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
07:51

Differentiating Chondrocytes from Peripheral Blood-derived Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: July 18, 2017

9.6K

Recombinant growth differentiation factor 11 impairs fracture healing through inhibiting chondrocyte differentiation

Rixin Zheng1, Liang Xie1, Weiqing Liu1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|December 22, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) impairs fracture healing by inhibiting chondrocyte maturation and bone repair. This study reveals GDF11

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a TGF-β superfamily member with reported rejuvenating properties.
  • Its specific role in fracture healing and bone repair remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of GDF11 on fracture healing and bone repair processes.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of GDF11's action in bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

  • Established a fracture model in 12-week-old male mice.
  • Administered recombinant GDF11 (rGDF11) and observed fracture healing stages (cartilaginous and bony callus).
  • Performed in vitro studies on chondrocytes, assessing differentiation and maturation markers, including SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and RUNX2 expression.

Main Results:

  • rGDF11 injection significantly inhibited cartilaginous callus maturation and hard callus formation, impairing fracture healing in vivo.
  • In vitro, rGDF11 suppressed chondrocyte differentiation and maturation.
  • These effects were mediated by SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and RUNX2 inhibition, and were attenuated by a SMAD-specific inhibitor.

Conclusions:

  • Contrary to expectations, GDF11 does not promote fracture healing and acts as an inhibitor.
  • GDF11 impairs bone repair by hindering chondrocyte differentiation and maturation through TGF-β signaling pathways.
  • GDF11 is not a rejuvenating agent for fracture healing.
Keywords:
TGF-βcartilagechondrocyte differentiationfracture healinggrowth differentiation factor 11

More Related Videos

Promotion of Survival and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells with Fibrin and Growth Factor Cocktails after Severe Spinal Cord Injury09:56

Promotion of Survival and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells with Fibrin and Growth Factor Cocktails after Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: July 27, 2014

12.9K
Assessment of Bone Fracture Healing Using Micro-Computed Tomography12:04

Assessment of Bone Fracture Healing Using Micro-Computed Tomography

Published on: December 9, 2022

2.5K

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment01:17

Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment

Renal dysfunction significantly impairs the renal clearance of drugs, leading to potential complications in drug therapy. Renal failure, which can be caused by various factors, poses a significant challenge in the elimination of drugs from the body.
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...
462
Implicit Differentiation01:25

Implicit Differentiation

In classical mechanics, motion is often described through relationships between spatial coordinates and time. A car moving along a straight highway with constant acceleration serves as a simple case where velocity is an explicit function of time. This scenario results in a linear equation, enabling straightforward analysis using basic differentiation techniques.In contrast, a satellite in circular orbit follows a path defined by an implicit function. The position of the satellite is constrained...
51
Logarithmic Differentiation01:28

Logarithmic Differentiation

When a car’s weight and driving forces act on a tire, they impose an external load on the rubber material. This load is resisted internally by forces distributed throughout the tire structure, which are defined as stress. The resulting deformation of the rubber due to this stress is quantified as strain. The relationship between stress and strain governs how the tire deforms under load and is central to understanding its mechanical response during operation.Rubber exhibits a nonlinear...
57
Cellular Differentiation00:57

Cellular Differentiation

How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
A zygote is a...
5.3K
Differential Leveling01:12

Differential Leveling

Differential leveling is a precise method in surveying used to determine the elevation difference between two points. Its primary goal is to establish accurate vertical measurements to create level surfaces or grade lines critical for designing and constructing infrastructures such as roads, bridges, and buildings.The procedure for differential leveling begins with setting up and leveling the instrument at a point where the benchmark can be seen. The level rod is held on the benchmark (BM), and...
711
Integrator and Differentiator01:13

Integrator and Differentiator

Op-amp circuits have significant applications in various fields, including automotive engineering. One such application is cruise control systems in cars, where op-amp circuits are integral for maintaining a constant speed. In these systems, op-amps function as both integrators and differentiators.
An integrator within an op-amp circuit produces an output directly proportional to the integral of the input signal. This is achieved by replacing the feedback resistor in a typical inverting...
1.4K