BRD4 is a novel therapeutic target for liver fibrosis #MMPMID26644586
Ding N; Hah N; Yu RT; Sherman MH; Benner C; Leblanc M; He M; Liddle C; Downes M; Evans RM
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015[Dec]; 112 (51): 15713-8 PMID26644586show ga
Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are chronic liver diseases, resulting in life-threatening conditions with no FDA-approved therapy. Here, we identify bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) as a critical regulator for enhancer-mediated profibrotic gene expression in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In support of this notion, we find BRD4-loaded enhancers are associated with multiple profibrotic pathways in HSCs and that pharmacological inhibition of BRD4 blocks HSC activation into myofibroblasts. Furthermore, small molecule inhibitors of BRD4 are not only protective against, but can limit the fibrotic response in CCl4-induced fibrosis in a mouse model. Thus, our studies implicate BRD4 as a global genomic regulator of the fibrotic gene regulatory network and suggest bromodomains as potential therapeutic targets to treat fibrotic complications in patients.