<b>Objective:</b> To better understand how TCF21 affects SMC phenotype, we sought to investigate the possible mechanisms by which it regulates the lineage determining myocardin (MYOCD)-serum response factor (SRF) pathway.
RBPJ binding dramatically co-localized with serum response factor (SRF) and RNA seq experiments in RBPJ- and SRF-depleted SMC demonstrated that these factors interact functionally to regulate the contraction and inflammatory gene programs that help define SMC phenotype.
The role of SRF in the regulation of SMC phenotype and function provides new insight into how SMC lose their contractility leading to hypomotility in pathophysiological conditions within the GI tract.