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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Assays for Validating Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitors
Published on: August 6, 2020
Targeting histone deacetylases for heart failure
Erik W Bush1, Timothy A McKinsey
1Gilead Colorado, Inc., 3333 Walnut Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA. erik.bush@gilead.com
Insights
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are promising therapeutic targets for heart failure. Further research is needed to validate HDAC-directed therapies, considering their non-cardiac roles.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Molecular Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cardiac remodeling, involving myocyte hypertrophy, death, and fibrosis, is triggered by stresses like hypertension and myocardial infarction, leading to heart failure.
- Recent research implicates histone deacetylases (HDACs) in regulating pathological cardiac remodeling processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review target validation experiments for HDACs in the context of heart failure.
- To highlight the non-cardiac functions of HDACs that require consideration for developing effective therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on HDACs and cardiac remodeling.
- Analysis of HDACs' roles in pathological signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- HDACs are positioned downstream in pathological signaling cascades relevant to heart failure.
- HDACs represent attractive therapeutic targets due to their role in disease progression.
Conclusions:
- HDACs are unique and attractive therapeutic targets for heart failure.
- In vivo proof-of-concept testing with novel small molecule regulators is crucial to confirm the validity and viability of HDAC-directed approaches.
Background:
Stresses such as chronic hypertension and myocardial infarction can trigger the heart to undergo a remodeling process characterized by myocyte hypertrophy, myocyte death and fibrosis, often resulting in impaired cardiac function and heart failure. Recent studies suggest key roles for histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the control of pathological cardiac remodeling.
Objective/Methods:
Here, we review these target validation experiments and highlight non-cardiac functions of HDACs that will need to be addressed during development of HDAC-directed therapies for heart failure.
Results/Conclusions:
HDACs are unique and attractive therapeutic targets for heart failure because of their positions far downstream in pathological signaling cascades. Confirmation of the validity and viability of approaches aimed at HDACs awaits in vivo proof-of-concept testing with novel small molecule regulators of these enzymes.
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