Histone Methyltransferase SET1 Mediates Angiotensin II–Induced Endothelin-1 Transcription and Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice

Abstract

Objective— Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor derived from vascular endothelium. Elevated endothelin-1 levels are observed in a host of cardiovascular pathologies including cardiomyopathy. The epigenetic mechanism responsible for endothelin-1 induction in these pathological processes remains elusive. Approach and Results— We report here that induction of endothelin-1 expression in endothelial cells by angiotensin II (Ang II) was accompanied by the accumulation of histone H3K4 trimethylation, a preeminent histone modification for transcriptional activation, on the endothelin-1 promoter. In the meantime, Ang II stimulated the expression and the occupancy of Suv, Ez, and Trithorax domain 1 (SET1), a mammalian histone H3K4 trimethyltransferase, on the endothelin-1 promoter, both in vitro and in vivo. SET1 was recruited to the endothelin-1 promoter by activating protein 1 (c-Jun/c-Fos) and synergized with activating protein 1 to activate endothelin-1 transcription in response to Ang II treatment. Knockdown of SET1 in endothelial cells blocked Ang II–induced endothelin-1 synthesis and abrogated hypertrophy of cultured cardiomyocyte. Finally, endothelial-specific depletion of SET1 in mice attenuated Ang II–induced pathological hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. Conclusions— Our data suggest that SET1 epigenetically activates endothelin-1 transcription in endothelial cells, thereby contributing to Ang II–induced cardiac hypertrophy. As such, screening of small-molecule compound that inhibits SET1 activity will likely offer a new therapeutic solution to the treatment of cardiomyopathy.

The histone H3K9 methyltransferase SUV39H links SIRT1 repression to myocardial infarction

“…Cells were cultured in serum-free insulin-transferrin (IT) medium (21) for an additional 24–36 h (ref. 43). Antimycin (AA), 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and chaetocin were purchased from Sigma.…”

Angiotensin II Signal Transduction: An Update on Mechanisms of Physiology and Pathophysiology

“…Endothelial cell-produced endothelin-1 (ET-1) contributes to ANG II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, independently from blood pressure (11). ANG II induces ET-1 expression by activation of c-Jun/c-Fos (AP1) and formation of chromatin remodeling complex that includes AP1-mediated recruitment of a histone H3K4 trimethyltransferase, either SET1 or MRTF-A (1138,1139,1222). Others report that endothelial tyrosine kinase Bmx and subsequent activation of STAT3 is necessary for ANG II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis due to the induction of proinflammatory cytokines (389).…”

Endothelium

“…Angiotensin II stimulates the endothelial expression and occupancy of histone H3K4 trimethyltransferase SET1 on the endothelin-1 promoter, activating the transcription of this potent vasoconstrictor. 22 Specific-endothelial deficiency in SET1 prevents angiotensin II-induced release of endothelin-1 and abrogated hypertrophy of cultured cardiomyocytes. These findings reinforce the interest for SET1 inhibitors for treatment of cardiomyopathy.…”