Skip to main content

Role of Histone Deacetylases in Monocyte Function in Health and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology

Part of the book series: Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology ((REVIEWS,volume 180))

Abstract

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of 18 members that participate in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. In addition to histones, some HDACs also deacetylate transcription factors and specific cytoplasmic proteins.

Monocytes, as part of the innate immune system, maintain tissue homeostasis and help fight infections and cancer. In these cells, HDACs are involved in multiple processes including proliferation, migration, differentiation, inflammatory response, infections, and tumorigenesis. Here, a systematic description of the role that most HDACs play in these functions is reviewed. Specifically, some HDACs induce a pro-inflammatory response and play major roles in host defense. Conversely, other HDACs reprogram monocytes and macrophages towards an immunosuppressive phenotype. The right balance between both types helps monocytes to respond correctly to the different physiological/pathological stimuli. However, aberrant expressions or activities of specific HDACs are associated with autoimmune diseases along with other chronic inflammatory diseases, infections, or cancer.

This paper critically reviews the interesting and extensive knowledge regarding the role of some HDACs in these pathologies. It also shows that as yet, very little progress has been made toward the goal of finding effective HDAC-targeted therapies. However, given their obvious potential, we conclude that it is worth the effort to develop monocyte-specific drugs that selectively target HDAC subtypes with the aim of finding effective treatments for diseases in which our innate immune system is involved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

BMDMs:

Bone marrow–derived macrophage cells

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COX-2:

Cyclooxygenase 2

CSE:

Cigarette smoke extract

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

FOXO:

Forkhead box

HAT:

Histone acetyltransferase

HDAC:

Histone deacetylase

HIF-1α:

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha

HIV-1:

Human immunodeficiency virus 1

HSPCs:

Human stem and progenitor cells

IAV:

Influenza A virus

IL:

Interleukin

JEV:

Japanese encephalitis virus

KLF2:

Krüppel-like factor 2

LOX-1:

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1

LPMCs:

Intestinal lamina propia mononuclear cells

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

LXR:

Liver X receptor

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemoattractant protein

MEF2:

Myocyte enhancer factor 2

MIP-1α:

Macrophage inflammatory protein alpha

MMP9:

Matrix metalloproteinase-9

NES:

Nuclear export sequence

NF-ĸB:

Nuclear factor kappa B

NLS:

Nuclear localization sequence

Nrf2:

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2

PBMCs:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

PI3Kδ:

Phosphoinositide-3-kinase-δ

SAHA:

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid

SIRT:

Sirtuin

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

TNFα:

Tumoral necrosis factor alpha

References

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Departamento de Salud (Gobierno de Navarra, Spain) for funding a project focused on the role of different HDACs on peripheral monocytes in depressed patients. Thanks to Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Gobierno de España) for supporting to M.C.E (FPU17/05039) with a fellowship. In addition, thanks to all the patients and volunteers that are collaborating in our research, and specially, to Ms Sandra Lizaso for all her technical support in all the monocyte studies. The authors declare no competing interests. Thanks to O.L.F for inspiring me the initial idea of this review during the first weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosa María Tordera .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Tordera, R.M., Cortés-Erice, M. (2021). Role of Histone Deacetylases in Monocyte Function in Health and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases. In: Pedersen, S.H.F. (eds) Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, vol 180. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/112_2021_59

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics