1. Academic Validation
  2. Inhibition of BRD4 attenuates transverse aortic constriction- and TGF-β-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition and cardiac fibrosis

Inhibition of BRD4 attenuates transverse aortic constriction- and TGF-β-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition and cardiac fibrosis

  • J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2019 Feb;127:83-96. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.12.002.
Shuai Song 1 Liang Liu 2 Yi Yu 3 Rui Zhang 1 Yigang Li 1 Wei Cao 1 Ying Xiao 1 Guojian Fang 1 Zhen Li 4 Xuelian Wang 4 Qi Wang 5 Xin Zhao 5 Long Chen 6 Yuepeng Wang 7 Qunshan Wang 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
  • 2 Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China.
  • 3 Department of Ultrasound, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
  • 4 Department of Geriatrics, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
  • 5 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
  • 6 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Huadong Hospital Affiliated of Fudan University, 221 Yananxi Road, Shanghai 200040, China.
  • 7 Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: wangyuepeng@xinhuamed.com.cn.
  • 8 Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: wangqunshan@xinhuamed.com.cn.
Abstract

Cardiac fibrosis (CF), a process characterized by potentiated proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and excessive secretion and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) from the cells, contributes strongly to the pathogenesis of a series of cardiovascular (CV) diseases, including AMI, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), one of the sources of transformed cardiac fibroblasts, has been reported as a key factor involved in CF. However, the molecular basis of EndMT has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. At the posttranscriptional level, of the three epigenetic regulators, writer and eraser are reported to be involved in EndMT, but the role of reader in the process is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), an acetyl-lysine reader protein, in EndMT-induced CF and related mechanisms. We found that BRD4 was upregulated in endothelial cells (ECs) in the pressure-overload mouse heart and that its functional inhibitor JQ1 potently attenuated the TAC-induced CF and preserved cardiac function. In umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs), bothJQ1 and shRNA-mediated silencing of BRD4 blocked TGF-β-induced EC migration, EndMT and ECM synthesis and preserved the EC sprouting behavior, possibly through the downregulation of a group of transcription factors specific for EndMT (Snail, Twist and Slug), the Smads pathway and TGF-β Receptor I. In the absence of TGF-β stimulation, ectopic expression of BRD4 alone could facilitate EndMT, accelerate migration and increase the synthesis of ECM. In vivo, JQ1 also attenuated TAC-induced EndMT and CF, which was consistent with JQ1's intracellular mechanisms of action. Our results showed that BRD4 plays a critical role in EndMT-induced CF and that targeting BRD4 might be a novel therapeutic option for CF.

Keywords

BRD4; Cardiac fibrosis; EndMT; Smads.

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