Histone Deacetylase 1 and 3 Regulate the Mesodermal Lineage Commitment of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

The important role of histone acetylation alteration has become increasingly recognized in mesodermal lineage differentiation and development. However, the contribution of individual histone deacetylases (HDACs) to mesoderm specification remains poorly understood. In this report, we found that trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDACi), could induce early differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and promote mesodermal lineage differentiation. Further analysis showed that the expression levels of HDAC1 and 3 are decreased gradually during ESCs differentiation. Ectopic expression of HDAC1 or 3 significantly inhibited differentiation into the mesodermal lineage. By contrast, loss of either HDAC1 or 3 enhanced the mesodermal differentiation of ESCs. Additionally, we demonstrated that the activity of HDAC1 and 3 is indeed required for the regulation of mesoderm gene expression. Furthermore, HDAC1 and 3 were found to interact physically with the T-box transcription factor T/Bry, which is critical for mesodermal lineage commitment. These findings indicate a key mechanism for the specific role of HDAC1 and 3 in mammalian mesoderm specification.