Activating transcription factor 3 protects against pressure-overload heart failure via the autophagy molecule Beclin-1 pathway

Heng Lin, Hsiao Fen Li, Hsi-Hsien Chen, Pei Fang Lai, Shu-Hui Juan, J. J. Chen, Ching Feng Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a cAMP response element-binding protein/ATF family transcription factors member, has been implicated in the cardiovascular and inflammatory system and is rapidly induced by ischemic-reperfusion injuries. We performed transverse aortic banding (TAB) experiments using ATF3 gene-deleted mice (ATF3-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice to determine what effect it might have on heart failure induced by pressure overloading. Compared with the WT mice, ATF3-/- mice were found by echocardiography to have decreased left ventricular contractility with loss of normal cardiac hypertrophic remodeling. The ATF3-/- mice had greater numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-deoxyuridine nick-end labeling-positive cells and higher levels of activated caspase-3, as well as more apoptosis. Restoration of ATF3 expression in the heart of ATF3-/- mice by adenovirus-induced ATF3 treatment significantly improved cardiac contractility after TAB. The results from molecular and biochemical analyses, including chromatin immune-precipitation and in vitro /in vivo promoter assays, showed that ATF3 bound to the ATF/cAMP response element of the Beclin-1 promoter and that ATF3 reduced autophagy via suppression of the Beclin-1-dependent pathway. Furthermore, infusion of tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a selective ATF3 inducer, increased the expression of ATF3 via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related transcriptional factor, inhibited TAB-induced cardiac dilatation, and increased left ventricular contractility, thereby rescuing heart failure. Our study identified a new epigenetic regulation mediated by the stress-inducible gene ATF3 on TAB-induced cardiac dysfunction. These findings suggest that the ATF3 activator tBHQ may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of pressure-overload heart failure induced by chronic hypertension or other pressure overload mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)682-691
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular Pharmacology
Volume85
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

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