Histone methyltransferase Smyd3 is a new regulator for vascular senescence

Based on the findings that increased protein level of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase Smyd3 and elevated H3K4me3 modification happened in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced senescence in rat endothelial cells. We found that an increase of Smyd3 alone promoted senescence-associated phenotypes, while knockdown of Smyd3 blocked senescence in endothelial cells. Furthermore, Smyd3-specific inhibitor reversed vascular senescence-associated phenotypes at cellular level.