Myocardin-related transcription factor A cooperates with brahmarelated gene 1 to activate P-selectin transcription

Expression of P-selectin in injured or activated endothelia cells serves as a permissive step towards leukocyte recruitment and perpetuation of inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.P-selectin can be induced by pro-inflammatory stimuli via the transcription factor NF-κB,but the epigenetic mechanisms remain incompletely understood.Previously we reported that myocardin-related transcription factor A（MRTF-A）mediates the transactivation of a slew of adhesion molecules by oxidized low-density lipoprotein（oxLDL）,likely through a crosstalk with brahma-related gene 1（BRGl）,a chromatin remodeling protein.Here,we show that MRTF-A was both sufficient and necessary for the transactivation of P-selectin gene in endothelial cells treated with TNF-α.Depletion of MRTF-A using small interfering RNA（siRNA）abrogated the binding of BRGl on the P-selectin promoter.Overexpression of BRG1 up-regulated the activity of P-selectin promoter activity while BRGl knockdown attenuated P-selectin expression.Finally,BRGl silencing suppressed the accumulation of acetylated histone H3 and methylated histone H3K4,and altered the binding of NF-κB on the P-selectin promoter.Therefore,our data demonstrate an essential role for MRTF-A and BRGl in P-selectin transactivation in endothelial cells.