Stress-Activated Kinase Mitogen-Activated Kinase Kinase-7 Governs Epigenetics of Cardiac Repolarization for Arrhythmia Prevention

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sanjoy K. Chowdhury - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Wei Liu - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Min Zi - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Yatong Li - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Shunyao Wang - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Hoyee Tsui - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Sukhpal Prehar - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Simon Castro - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Henggui Zhang - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Yong Ji - , University of Manchester, Nanjing Medical University (Author)
  • Xiuqin Zhang - , Peking University (Author)
  • Ruiping Xiao - , Peking University (Author)
  • Rongli Zhang - , Case Western Reserve University (Author)
  • Ming Lei - , University of Oxford (Author)
  • Lukas Cyganek - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Kaomei Guan - , University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Catherine B. Millar - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Xudong Liao - , Case Western Reserve University (Author)
  • Mukesh K. Jain - , Case Western Reserve University (Author)
  • Mark R. Boyett - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Elizabeth J. Cartwright - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Holly A. Shiels - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Xin Wang - , University of Manchester (Author)

Abstract

Background: Ventricular arrhythmia is a leading cause of cardiac mortality. Most antiarrhythmics present paradoxical proarrhythmic side effects, culminating in a greater risk of sudden death. Methods: We describe a new regulatory mechanism linking mitogen-activated kinase kinase-7 deficiency with increased arrhythmia vulnerability in hypertrophied and failing hearts using mouse models harboring mitogen-activated kinase kinase-7 knockout or overexpression. The human relevance of this arrhythmogenic mechanism is evaluated in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Therapeutic potentials by targeting this mechanism are explored in the mouse models and human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Results: Mechanistically, hypertrophic stress dampens expression and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated kinase kinase-7. Such mitogen-activated kinase kinase-7 deficiency leaves histone deacetylase-2 unphosphorylated and filamin-A accumulated in the nucleus to form a complex with Krüppel-like factor-4. This complex leads to Krüppel-like factor-4 disassociation from the promoter regions of multiple key potassium channel genes (Kv4.2, KChIP2, Kv1.5, ERG1, and Kir6.2) and reduction of their transcript levels. Consequent repolarization delays result in ventricular arrhythmias. Therapeutically, targeting the repressive function of the Krüppel-like factor-4/histone deacetylase-2/filamin-A complex with the histone deacetylase-2 inhibitor valproic acid restores K + channel expression and alleviates ventricular arrhythmias in pathologically remodeled hearts. Conclusions: Our findings unveil this new gene regulatory avenue as a new antiarrhythmic target where repurposing of the antiepileptic drug valproic acid as an antiarrhythmic is supported.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)683-699
Number of pages17
JournalCirculation
Volume135
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - 14 Feb 2017
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85007451735
PubMed 27899394

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • arrhythmias, cardiac, gene expression regulation, heart failure, pharmaceutical preparations, therapeutics