BET bromodomains mediate transcriptional pause release in heart failure

Cell. 2013 Aug 1;154(3):569-82. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.07.013.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is driven by the interplay between regulatory transcription factors and dynamic alterations in chromatin structure. Pathologic gene transactivation in HF is associated with recruitment of histone acetyl-transferases and local chromatin hyperacetylation. We therefore assessed the role of acetyl-lysine reader proteins, or bromodomains, in HF. Using a chemical genetic approach, we establish a central role for BET family bromodomain proteins in gene control during HF pathogenesis. BET inhibition potently suppresses cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and pathologic cardiac remodeling in vivo. Integrative transcriptional and epigenomic analyses reveal that BET proteins function mechanistically as pause-release factors critical to expression of genes that are central to HF pathogenesis and relevant to the pathobiology of failing human hearts. This study implicates epigenetic readers as essential effectors of transcriptional pause release during HF pathogenesis and identifies BET coactivator proteins as therapeutic targets in the heart.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiomegaly / genetics
  • Cardiomegaly / metabolism
  • Chromatin
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Heart
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy
  • Heart Failure / genetics
  • Heart Failure / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rats
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Transcription Factors

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE46668
  • GEO/GSE48110
  • GEO/GSE48111
  • GEO/GSE48112