New Insight in HDACs: Potential Therapeutic Targets for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) features include progressive hardening and reduced elasticity of arteries. AS is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. An increasing amount of evidence showed that epigenetic modifications on genes serve are a main cause of several diseases, including AS. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) promote the deacetylation at lysine residues, thereby condensing the chromatin structures and further inhibiting the transcription of downstream genes. HDACs widely affect various physiological and pathological processes through transcriptional regulation or deacetylation of other non-histone proteins. In recent years, the role of HDACs in vascular systems has been revealed, and their effects on atherosclerosis have been widely reported. In this review, we discuss the members of HDACs in vascular systems, determine the diverse roles of HDACs in AS, and reveal the effects of HDAC inhibitors on AS progression. We provide new insights into the potential of HDAC inhibitors as drugs for AS treatment.

Automated summary

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a disease characterized by progressive hardening and reduced elasticity of arteries, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have shown that epigenetic modifications on genes, especially histone deacetylases (HDACs), play a significant role in the development of AS and other diseases. HDACs promote chromatin compaction and inhibit the transcription of downstream genes, affecting various physiological and pathological processes. This review discusses the role of HDACs in vascular systems, their diverse roles in AS, and the potential of HDAC inhibitors as drugs for AS treatment.