Study on the expression level and role of PHF14 in myocardial hypertrophy

GUO Na; JIAO Wei; ZHAO Pengfei

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2025.12.007

Abstract：Objective To investigate the function and possible molecular mechanism of plant homologous domain finger protein 14(PHF14)in cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.Methods Myocardial tissues and control tissues were collected from patients with myocardial hypertrophy,and the mRNA and protein levels of PHF14 were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blot,respectively.A mouse myocardial hypertrophy model was created by angiotensin Ⅱ induction.RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of myocardial hypertrophy marker genes and PHF14.Rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and treated with angiotensin Ⅱ for inducing myocardial hypertrophy.Cells were then transfected with shPHF14 to interfere with the expression of PHF14.RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of myocardial hypertrophy marker genes and downstream signaling pathways.Results Compared with normal myocardial tissues,the mRNA and protein levels of PHF14 were significantly higher in myocardial tissues of patients with myocardial hypertrophy(P＜0.05).In the mouse cardiac hypertrophy model,the expressions of three marker genes,including atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP)and Myosin heavy chain 7(MYH7),significantly increased(P＜0.05).In addition,the expression level of PHF14 significantly increased(P＜0.05).In the in vitro model of rat cardiomyocytes,shPHF14 transfection significantly reduced the expressions of PHF14,ANP,BNP and MYH7 induced by angiotensin Ⅱ.In addition,knockdown of PHF14 significantly promoted the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(Akt)signaling pathway inhibited by angiotensinⅡ.Conclusion PHF14 is highly expressed in myocardial hypertrophy,and inhibiting PHF14 can alleviate the degree of myocardial hypertrophy,possibly by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.It indicated that PHF14 can be a potential target for treating myocardial hypertrophy.