Dependencies between Linaro toolchain and GDB/Linux Kernel

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knows of any current or future dependencies with the Linaro toolchain (2011.11) and the Linaro release of GDB and the Linux Kernel? Is it considered safe to use the toolchain with the upstream releases of GDB and the Kernel, assuming that the versions of each are suitably compatible? Or are there potential dependencies on work that has been done in the toolchain? For example, new instructions supported in the compiler/assembler, or enhancements to the kernel/runtime library on the Linaro branch that would depend on them being in sync.

Thanks, Dave.