Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are secreted signaling proteins, many of which are involved in various developmental processes, in addition to bone formation. GDF11 is a circulating growth and differentiation factor that has age-dependent effects on development. Notably, injection of recombinant GDF11 into old mice, so that circulating levels match those in young mice, enhances vascularization in the brain, increases vessel volume, increases neural stem cell populations, and reverses cardiac hypertrophy. These changes mimic the changes in vascular remodeling, neurogenesis, and olfactory function that are produced by providing young blood to aged mice. In mouse embryos, GDF11 has critical roles in patterning mesodermal, skeletal, and neural tissues.
