FoxO4 controls sGCβ transcription in vascular smooth muscle

Abstract

One of the key mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) dilation occurs through nitric oxide (NO)-dependent induction of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) by means of its β-subunit. Herein, we are the first to identify Forkhead box subclass O protein 4 (FoxO4) as a key transcriptional regulator of GUCY1B3 expression, which codes for sGCβ protein in human and animal SMCs. This discovery will likely have important implications for the future usage of antihypertensive and vasodilatory therapies which target NO production, sGC, or FoxO transcription factors.