Repression of the central splicing regulator RBFox2 is functionally linked to pressure overload-induced heart failure

Heart failure is characterized by the transition from an initial compensatory response to decompensation, which can be partially mimicked by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in rodent models. Numerous signaling molecules have been shown to be part of the compensatory program, but relatively little is known about the transition to decompensation that leads to heart failure. Here, we show that TAC potently decreases the RBFox2 protein in the mouse heart, and cardiac ablation of this critical splicing regulator generates many phenotypes resembling those associated with decompensation in the failing heart. Global analysis reveals that RBFox2 regulates splicing of many genes implicated in heart function and disease. A subset of these genes undergoes developmental regulation during postnatal heart remodeling, which is reversed in TAC-treated and RBFox2 knockout mice. These findings suggest that RBFox2 may be a critical stress sensor during pressure overload-induced heart failure.