Blockade of fibroblast YAP attenuates cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction through MRTF-A inhibition

J Francisco, Y Zhang, JI Jeong, W Mizushima… - Basic to Translational …, 2020 - jacc.org
J Francisco, Y Zhang, JI Jeong, W Mizushima, S Ikeda, A Ivessa, S Oka, P Zhai, MD Tallquist…
Basic to Translational Science, 2020jacc.org
Fibrotic remodeling of the heart in response to injury contributes to heart failure, yet
therapies to treat fibrosis remain elusive. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is activated in
cardiac fibroblasts by myocardial infarction, and genetic inhibition of fibroblast YAP
attenuates myocardial infarction–induced cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis. YAP promotes
myofibroblast differentiation and associated extracellular matrix gene expression through
engagement of TEA domain transcription factor 1 and subsequent de novo expression of …
Summary
Fibrotic remodeling of the heart in response to injury contributes to heart failure, yet therapies to treat fibrosis remain elusive. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is activated in cardiac fibroblasts by myocardial infarction, and genetic inhibition of fibroblast YAP attenuates myocardial infarction–induced cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis. YAP promotes myofibroblast differentiation and associated extracellular matrix gene expression through engagement of TEA domain transcription factor 1 and subsequent de novo expression of myocardin-related transcription factor A. Thus, fibroblast YAP is a promising therapeutic target to prevent fibrotic remodeling and heart failure.
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