Epigenetic Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Histone H3 Lysine 9 Dimethylation Attenuates Target Gene-Induction by Inflammatory Signaling

Abstract

This study implicates H3K9me2 in regulating the proinflammatory VSMC phenotype. Our findings suggest that reduced H3K9me2 in disease enhance binding of NFκB and AP-1 (activator protein-1) transcription factors at specific inflammation-responsive genes to augment proinflammatory stimuli in VSMC. Therefore, H3K9me2-regulation could be targeted clinically to limit expression of MMPs and IL6, which are induced in vascular disease.