1. EZH2 as a novel therapeutic target for atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation.
- Author
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Song S, Zhang R, Mo B, Chen L, Liu L, Yu Y, Cao W, Fang G, Wan Y, Gu Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Yu Y, and Wang Q
- Subjects
- Angiotensin II adverse effects, Angiotensin II pharmacology, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Dogs, Female, Fibrosis, Heart Atria metabolism, Heart Atria pathology, Humans, Male, Mice, Middle Aged, Atrial Fibrillation chemically induced, Atrial Fibrillation drug therapy, Atrial Fibrillation metabolism, Atrial Fibrillation pathology, Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein antagonists & inhibitors, Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein metabolism, Fibroblasts metabolism, Fibroblasts pathology, Gene Expression Regulation drug effects, Indoles pharmacology, Pyridones pharmacology
- Abstract
Angiotensin II (Ang-II)-induced fibroblast differentiation plays an important role in the development of atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we show that the expression of the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is increased in atrial muscle and atrial fibroblasts in patients with AF, accompanied by significant atrial fibrosis and atrial fibroblast differentiation. In addition, EZH2 is induced in murine models of atrial fibrosis. Furthermore, either pharmacological GSK126 inhibition or molecular silencing of EZH2 can inhibit the differentiation of atrial fibroblasts and the ability to produce ECM induced by Ang-II. Simultaneously, inhibition of EZH2 can block the Ang-II-induced migration of atrial fibroblasts. We found that EZH2 promotes fibroblast differentiation mainly through the Smad signaling pathway and can form a transcription complex with Smad2 to bind to the promoter region of the ACTA2 gene. Finally, our in vivo experiments demonstrated that the EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 significantly inhibited Ang-II-induced atrial enlargement and fibrosis and reduced AF vulnerability. Our results demonstrate that targeting EZH2 or EZH2-regulated genes might present therapeutic potential in AF., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2019
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