Imaging Histone Deacetylase in the Heart

Histone deacetylases (HDACs), a class of epigenetic enzymes, play an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure, including development of left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. Preclinical data demonstrate the importance of HDAC inhibition in attenuating these pathological processes and maintaining the integrity of the myocardium. However, the role of HDACs in the human heart, and the utility of HDAC inhibition remains unknown. Therefore, a noninvasive method to detect HDAC activity in the human heart in healthy individuals and patients with heart disease may be of major medical and public health value to help determine prognosis, direct therapy, and guide the development of novel therapies for heart failure. The investigators have recently developed a novel radiotracer, 11C-Martinostat, which binds with high affinity to class I HDACs. The objective of this protocol is to assess the utility of 11C-Martinostat PET-MR to detect HDAC expression in the hearts of healthy individuals and patients with severe aortic stenosis or diabetes.