Aldose Reductase Acts as a Selective Derepressor of PPARγ and the Retinoic Acid Receptor

Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), a chromatin-modifying enzyme, requires association with the deacetylase-containing domain (DAD) of the nuclear receptor corepressors NCOR1 and SMRT for its stability and activity. Here, we show that aldose reductase (AR), the rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway, competes with HDAC3 to bind the NCOR1/SMRT DAD. Increased AR expression leads to HDAC3 degradation followed by increased PPARγ signaling, resulting in lipid accumulation in the heart. AR also downregulates expression of nuclear corepressor complex cofactors including Gps2 and Tblr1, thus affecting activity of the nuclear corepressor complex itself. Though AR reduces HDAC3-corepressor complex formation, it specifically derepresses the retinoic acid receptor (RAR), but not other nuclear receptors such as the thyroid receptor (TR) and liver X receptor (LXR). In summary, this work defines a distinct role for AR in lipid and retinoid metabolism through HDAC3 regulation and consequent derepression of PPARγ and RAR. [Display omitted] •AR, the first enzyme in the polyol pathway, influences cardiac lipid accumulation•AR competes with HDAC3 for corepressor complex binding, leading to HDAC3 degradation•AR reduces HDAC3-corepressor complex formation•AR specifically derepresses the PPARγ and RAR pathways Thiagarajan et al. find a distinct role for aldose reductase as a specific derepressor of nuclear receptors including PPARγ and RAR. Aldose reductase reduces nuclear repressor complex formation by decreasing HDAC3 and expression of its cofactors. Low corepressor complex formation results in lipid accumulation in murine hearts.