Ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) is a master regulator of smooth muscle cell plasticity

  • Posted on: 5 November 2014
  • By: fcoldren
TitleTen-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) is a master regulator of smooth muscle cell plasticity
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsLiu R, Jin Y, Tang WHo, Qin L, Zhang X, Tellides G, Hwa J, Yu J, Martin KA
JournalCirculation
Volume128
Issue18
Pagination2047-57
Date Published2013 Oct 29
ISSN1524-4539
KeywordsAnimals, Atherosclerosis, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, DNA-Binding Proteins, Epigenesis, Genetic, Humans, Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Muscle, Smooth, Vascular, Myocytes, Smooth Muscle, Nuclear Proteins, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Trans-Activators, Wound Healing
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are remarkably plastic. Their reversible differentiation is required for growth and wound healing but also contributes to pathologies such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. Although key regulators of the SMC phenotype, including myocardin (MYOCD) and KLF4, have been identified, a unifying epigenetic mechanism that confers reversible SMC differentiation has not been reported.METHODS AND RESULTS: Using human SMCs, human arterial tissue, and mouse models, we report that SMC plasticity is governed by the DNA-modifying enzyme ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2). TET2 and its product, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), are enriched in contractile SMCs but reduced in dedifferentiated SMCs. TET2 knockdown inhibits expression of key procontractile genes, including MYOCD and SRF, with concomitant transcriptional upregulation of KLF4. TET2 knockdown prevents rapamycin-induced SMC differentiation, whereas TET2 overexpression is sufficient to induce a contractile phenotype. TET2 overexpression also induces SMC gene expression in fibroblasts. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrates that TET2 coordinately regulates phenotypic modulation through opposing effects on chromatin accessibility at the promoters of procontractile versus dedifferentiation-associated genes. Notably, we find that TET2 binds and 5-hmC is enriched in CArG-rich regions of active SMC contractile promoters (MYOCD, SRF, and MYH11). Loss of TET2 and 5-hmC positively correlates with the degree of injury in murine models of vascular injury and human atherosclerotic disease. Importantly, localized TET2 knockdown exacerbates injury response, and local TET2 overexpression restores the 5-hmC epigenetic landscape and contractile gene expression and greatly attenuates intimal hyperplasia in vivo.CONCLUSIONS: We identify TET2 as a novel and necessary master epigenetic regulator of SMC differentiation.

DOI10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.002887
Alternate JournalCirculation
PubMed ID24077167
PubMed Central IDPMC3899790
Grant ListHL074190 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HL091013 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HL115247 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HL117798 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL074190 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL091013 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL115247 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States