Alcohol-induced histone H3K9 hyperacetylation and cardiac hypertrophy are reversed by a histone acetylases inhibitor anacardic acid in developing murine hearts

Our results indicate that alcohol exposure during pregnancy could lead to fetal cardiac hypertrophy. The over-expression of NKX2.5, β-MHC, Cx43 mediated by p300 and PCAF may be critical mechanisms of alcohol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Anacardic acid can down-regulate the over-expression of cardiac genes and reverse cardiac hypertrophy caused by alcohol treatment in pregnant mice, suggesting it could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy.