Growth differentiation factor 11 ameliorates experimental colitis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) has an anti-inflammatory effect in the mouse model of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, but how GDF11 regulates intestinal inflammation during ulcerative colitis (UC) is poorly defined. The NLRP3 (Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-1 containing 3) inflammasome is closely associated with intestinal inflammation due to its ability to increase IL-1β secretion. Our aim is to determine whether GDF11 has an effect on attenuating experimental colitis in mice. In this study, using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mouse model, we reported that GDF11 treatment attenuated loss of body weight, the severity of the disease activity index (DAI), shortening of the colon, and histological changes in the colon. GDF11 remarkably suppressed IL-1β secretion and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in colon samples and RAW264.7 cells, such as the levels of NLRP3 and activated caspase-1. Furthermore, we found that GDF11 inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by do...