Myocyte enhancer factor 2 and class II histone deacetylases control a gender-specific pathway of cardioprotection mediated by the estrogen receptor.
BACKGROUND
Gender differences in cardiovascular disease have long been recognized and attributed to beneficial cardiovascular actions of estrogen. Class II histone deacetylases (HDACs) act as key modulators of heart disease by repressing the activity of the myocyte enhancer factor (MEF)2 transcription factor, which promotes pathological cardiac remodeling in response to stress. Although it is proposed that HDACs additionally influence nuclear receptor signaling, the effect of class II HDACs on gender differences in cardiovascular disease remains unstudied.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to examine the effect of class II HDACs on post-myocardial infarction remodeling in male and female mice.


RESULTS
Here we show that the absence of HDAC5 or -9 in female mice protects against maladaptive remodeling following myocardial infarction, during which there is an upregulation of estrogen-responsive genes in the heart. This genetic reprogramming coincides with a pronounced increase in expression of the estrogen receptor (ER)alpha gene, which we show to be a direct MEF2 target gene. ERalpha also directly interacts with class II HDACs. Cardioprotection resulting from the absence of HDAC5 or -9 in female mice can be attributed, at least in part, to enhanced neoangiogenesis in the infarcted region via upregulation of the ER target gene vascular endothelial growth factor-a.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results reveal a novel gender-specific pathway of cardioprotection mediated by ERalpha and its regulation by MEF2 and class II HDACs.
van Rooij
Eva
E
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA.
Fielitz
Jens
J
Sutherland
Lillian B
LB
Thijssen
Victor L
VL
Crijns
Harry J
HJ
Dimaio
Michael J
MJ
Shelton
John
J
De Windt
Leon J
LJ
Hill
Joseph A
JA
Olson
Eric N
EN
D000818:Animals; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; C498618:Hdac5 protein, mouse; C486545:Hdac9 protein, mouse; D006655:Histone Deacetylases