Stroke Causes DNA Methylation at Ncx1 Heart Promoter in the Brain Via DNMT1/MeCP2/REST Epigenetic Complex

Background REST (Repressor‐Element 1 [RE1]‐silencing transcription factor) inhibits Na+/Ca2+exchanger‐1 (Ncx1) transcription in neurons through the binding of RE1 site on brain promoter (Br) after stroke. We identified a new putative RE1 site in Ncx1 heart promoter (Ht) sequence (Ht‐RE1) that participates in neuronal Ncx1 transcription. Because REST recruits DNA‐methyltransferase‐1 (DNMT1) and MeCP2 (methyl‐CpG binding protein 2) on different neuronal genes, we investigated the role of this complex in Ncx1 transcriptional regulation after stroke. Methods and Results Luciferase experiments performed in SH‐SY5Y cells demonstrated that Br activity was selectively decreased by REST, whereas Ht activity was reduced by DNMT1, MeCP2, and REST. Notably, site‐direct mutagenesis of Ht‐RE1 prevented REST‐dependent downregulation of Ncx1. Furthermore, in temporoparietal cortex of 8‐week‐old male wild‐type mice (C57BL/6) subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, DNMT1, MeCP2, and REST binding to Ht promoter was increased, with a consequent DNA promoter hypermethylation. Intracerebroventricular injection of siREST prevented DNMT1/MeCP2 binding to Ht and Ncx1 downregulation, thus causing a reduction in stroke‐induced damage. Consistently, in cortical neurons subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation plus reoxygenation Ncx1 knockdown counteracted neuronal protection induced by the demethylating agent 5‐azacytidine. For comparisons between 2 experimental groups, Student's t test was used, whereas for more than 2 experimental groups, 1‐way ANOVA was used, followed by Tukey or Newman Keuls. Statistical significance was set at P