title: Myocardin: A novel player in atherosclerosis.
abstract: Myocardin (MYOCD) the most important coactivator of serum response factor (SRF), plays a critical role specifically in the development of cardiac myocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Binding of Myocardin to the SRF on the CArG box-containing target genes can transcriptionally activate a variety of downstream muscle-specific genes, such as Sm22α, Acta2, Myh11, and several other signaling pathways. Myocardin expression represents a contractile and differentiated SMC phenotype. Loss of Myocardin, however, represents a synthetic and dedifferentiated phenotype, a hallmark in atherosclerosis. Growing evidence shows that Myocardin is involved in lipid metabolism and vascular inflammation, the primary pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Moreover, Myocardin expression level is altered in atherosclerotic patients and animal models, suggesting more extensive and important roles for Myocardin in atherosclerosis. In the current review, we summarized recent progress on the regulation and signaling of Myocardin, and highlighted its impacts on atherosclerotic disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Key Laboratory for Atherosclerology of Hunan Province, Medicine Research Center, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China; Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Key Laboratory for Atherosclerology of Hunan Province, Medicine Research Center, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, The University of Calgary, Health Sciences Center, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Xi-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Key Laboratory for Atherosclerology of Hunan Province, Medicine Research Center, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China. Electronic address: tangchaoke@qq.com.
authors.forename: Chao-Ke
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D026362:Serum Response Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099251:Myocardin
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000099251:Myocardin
keywords: Abca1; Atherosclerosis; Inflammation; Lipid metabolism; Myocardin; VSMC