〔Abstract〕 Objective To establish an in vitro human aortic endothelial cell(HAEC) calcification model and explore the effect of exogenous growth differentiation factor 11(GDF11) on calcification. Methods Low-concentration(10 mmol/L)/high-concentration(30 mmol/L) β-glycerol phosphate+100 nmol/L dexamethasone+50 μg/ml L-ascorbic acid were used to stimulate HAEC, and an effective calcification induction protocol was selected. Different concentrations(0, 30, 50, 100 ng/ml) of GDF11 were used at different concentrations(0, 30, 50, 100 ng/ml) to stimulate HAEC at different times(0, 8, 24, 48 h), and the effective concentration and time of GDF11 were selected; HAEC was divided into blank group, GDF11 group, calcification group, GDF11 + calcification group. Western blot was used to detect the expression of bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) 2, BMP4, and GDF11; cell immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of GDF11; RT-PCR was used to detect the gene expression of Runx2, Osterix, and GDF11; Alizarin Red S staining was used to detect calcification deposition. Results (1) The expression levels of GDF11, BMP4, and BMP2 proteins in the high-concentration group were higher than those in the blank group(P<0.05); the Runx2, Osterix, and GDF11 gene expression levels in the high-concentration group were higher than those in the blank group(P<0.05); alizarin red staining showed that calcium deposition increased in the high-concentration group compared with the blank group;(2) Expression of BMP2, BMP4 protein decreased after pretreatment with 100 ng/ml GDF11 for 24 h(P<0.05));(3) Compared with the calcification group, the expression of BMP2 and BMP4 protein in the GDF11+calcification group decreased(P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the GDF11 group and the blank group; compared with the calcification group, the calcification deposition of GDF11+calcification group was reduced, and there was no significant difference between the GDF11 group and the blank group; the gene levels of Runx2 and Osterix in the GDF11+calcification group were lower than those in the calcification group(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the GDF11 group and the blank group. Conclusion GDF11 can inhibit calcification of HAEC and may be associated with the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation in HAEC.