A histone deacetylase 3-dependent pathway delimits peripheral myelin growth and functional regeneration

Nat Med. 2018 Mar;24(3):338-351. doi: 10.1038/nm.4483. Epub 2018 Feb 12.

Abstract

Deficits in Schwann cell-mediated remyelination impair functional restoration after nerve damage, contributing to peripheral neuropathies. The mechanisms mediating block of remyelination remain elusive. Here, through small-molecule screening focusing on epigenetic modulators, we identified histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3; a histone-modifying enzyme) as a potent inhibitor of peripheral myelinogenesis. Inhibition of HDAC3 enhanced myelin growth and regeneration and improved functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury in mice. HDAC3 antagonizes the myelinogenic neuregulin-PI3K-AKT signaling axis. Moreover, genome-wide profiling analyses revealed that HDAC3 represses promyelinating programs through epigenetic silencing while coordinating with p300 histone acetyltransferase to activate myelination-inhibitory programs that include the HIPPO signaling effector TEAD4 to inhibit myelin growth. Schwann cell-specific deletion of either Hdac3 or Tead4 in mice resulted in an elevation of myelin thickness in sciatic nerves. Thus, our findings identify the HDAC3-TEAD4 network as a dual-function switch of cell-intrinsic inhibitory machinery that counters myelinogenic signals and maintains peripheral myelin homeostasis, highlighting the therapeutic potential of transient HDAC3 inhibition for improving peripheral myelin repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • E1A-Associated p300 Protein / genetics*
  • Genome
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • Humans
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics*
  • Myelin Sheath / genetics
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism
  • Nerve Degeneration / genetics
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Nerve Regeneration / genetics*
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / genetics*
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / rehabilitation
  • Recovery of Function / genetics
  • Remyelination / genetics*
  • Schwann Cells / metabolism
  • Schwann Cells / pathology
  • Sciatic Nerve / growth & development
  • Sciatic Nerve / injuries
  • Sciatic Nerve / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Tead4 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • E1A-Associated p300 Protein
  • Ep300 protein, mouse
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • histone deacetylase 3