RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Klf15 Deficiency Is a Molecular Link Between Heart Failure and Aortic Aneurysm Formation JF Science Translational Medicine FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 26ra26 OP 26ra26 DO 10.1126/scitranslmed.3000502 VO 2 IS 26 A1 Haldar, Saptarsi M. A1 Lu, Yuan A1 Jeyaraj, Darwin A1 Kawanami, Daiji A1 Cui, Yingjie A1 Eapen, Sam J. A1 Hao, Caili A1 Li, Yan A1 Doughman, Yong-Qiu A1 Watanabe, Michiko A1 Shimizu, Koichi A1 Kuivaniemi, Helena A1 Sadoshima, Junichi A1 Margulies, Kenneth B. A1 Cappola, Thomas P. A1 Jain, Mukesh K. YR 2010 UL http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/2/26/26ra26.abstract AB Current therapies for diseases of heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) and aorta (aortopathy) include inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system, β-adrenergic antagonists, and the statin class of cholesterol-lowering agents. These therapies have limited efficacy, as adverse cardiovascular events continue to occur with some frequency in patients taking these drugs. Although cardiomyopathy and aortopathy can coexist in a number of conditions (for example, Marfan’s syndrome, acromegaly, pregnancy, and aging), pathogenetic molecular links between the two diseases remain poorly understood. We reasoned that identification of common molecular perturbations in these two tissues could point to therapies for both conditions. Here, we show that deficiency of the transcriptional regulator Kruppel-like factor 15 (Klf15) in mice leads to both heart failure and aortic aneurysm formation through a shared molecular mechanism. Klf15 concentrations are markedly reduced in failing human hearts and in human aortic aneurysm tissues. Mice deficient in Klf15 develop heart failure and aortic aneurysms in a p53-dependent and p300 acetyltransferase–dependent fashion. KLF15 activation inhibits p300-mediated acetylation of p53. Conversely, Klf15 deficiency leads to hyperacetylation of p53 in the heart and aorta, a finding that is recapitulated in human tissues. Finally, Klf15-deficient mice are rescued by p53 deletion or p300 inhibition. These findings highlight a molecular perturbation common to the pathobiology of heart failure and aortic aneurysm formation and suggest that manipulation of KLF15 function may be a productive approach to treat these morbid diseases. Copyright © 2010, American Association for the Advancement of Science