TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeting macrophage Histone deacetylase 3 stabilizes atherosclerotic lesions
AU - Hoeksema, Marten A.
AU - Gijbels, Marion J. J.
AU - Van den Bossche, Jan
AU - van der Velden, Saskia
AU - Sijm, Ayestha
AU - Neele, Annette E.
AU - Seijkens, Tom
AU - Stoger, J. Lauran
AU - Meiler, Svenja
AU - Boshuizen, Marieke C. S.
AU - Dallinga-Thie, Geesje M.
AU - Levels, Johannes H. M.
AU - Boon, Louis
AU - Mullican, Shannon E.
AU - Spann, Nathanael J.
AU - Cleutjens, Jack P.
AU - Glass, Chris K.
AU - Lazar, Mitchell A.
AU - de Vries, Carlie J. M.
AU - Biessen, Erik A. L.
AU - Daemen, Mat J. A. P.
AU - Lutgens, Esther
AU - de Winther, Menno P. J.
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - Macrophages are key immune cells found in atherosclerotic plaques and critically shape atherosclerotic disease development. Targeting the functional repertoire of macrophages may hold novel approaches for future atherosclerosis management. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized role of the epigenomic enzyme Histone deacetylase 3 (Hdac3) in regulating the atherosclerotic phenotype of macrophages. Using conditional knockout mice, we found that myeloid Hdac3 deficiency promotes collagen deposition in atherosclerotic lesions and thus induces a stable plaque phenotype. Also, macrophages presented a switch to anti-inflammatory wound healing characteristics and showed improved lipid handling. The pro-fibrotic phenotype was directly linked to epigenetic regulation of the Tgfb1 locus upon Hdac3 deletion, driving smooth muscle cells to increased collagen production. Moreover, in humans, HDAC3 was the sole Hdac upregulated in ruptured atherosclerotic lesions, Hdac3 associated with inflammatory macrophages, and HDAC3 expression inversely correlated with pro-fibrotic TGFB1 expression. Collectively, we show that targeting the macrophage epigenome can improve atherosclerosis outcome and we identify Hdac3 as a potential novel therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease.
AB - Macrophages are key immune cells found in atherosclerotic plaques and critically shape atherosclerotic disease development. Targeting the functional repertoire of macrophages may hold novel approaches for future atherosclerosis management. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized role of the epigenomic enzyme Histone deacetylase 3 (Hdac3) in regulating the atherosclerotic phenotype of macrophages. Using conditional knockout mice, we found that myeloid Hdac3 deficiency promotes collagen deposition in atherosclerotic lesions and thus induces a stable plaque phenotype. Also, macrophages presented a switch to anti-inflammatory wound healing characteristics and showed improved lipid handling. The pro-fibrotic phenotype was directly linked to epigenetic regulation of the Tgfb1 locus upon Hdac3 deletion, driving smooth muscle cells to increased collagen production. Moreover, in humans, HDAC3 was the sole Hdac upregulated in ruptured atherosclerotic lesions, Hdac3 associated with inflammatory macrophages, and HDAC3 expression inversely correlated with pro-fibrotic TGFB1 expression. Collectively, we show that targeting the macrophage epigenome can improve atherosclerosis outcome and we identify Hdac3 as a potential novel therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease.
KW - atherosclerosis
KW - epigenetics
KW - fibrosis
KW - lipids
KW - macrophages
U2 - 10.15252/emmm.201404170
DO - 10.15252/emmm.201404170
M3 - Article
C2 - 25007801
SN - 1757-4676
VL - 6
SP - 1124
EP - 1132
JO - EMBO Molecular Medicine
JF - EMBO Molecular Medicine
IS - 9
ER -