Transient receptor potential canonical type 3 channels--their evolving role in hypertension and its related complications

TRPC3 Regulates Islet Beta-Cell Insulin Secretion

Insulin release is tightly controlled by glucose-stimulated calcium (GSCa) through hitherto equivocal pathways. This study investigates TRPC3, a non-selective cation channel, as a critical regulator of insulin secretion and glucose control. TRPC3's involvement in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is studied in human and animal islets. TRPC3-dependent in vivo insulin secretion is investigated using pharmacological tools and Trpc3-/- mice. TRPC3's involvement in islet glucose uptake and GSCa is explored using fluorescent glucose analogue 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose and calcium imaging. TRPC3 modulation by a small-molecule activator, GSK1702934A, is evaluated in type 2 diabetic mice. TRPC3 is functionally expressed in human and mouse islet beta cells. TRPC3-controlled insulin secretion is KATP -independent and primarily mediated by diacylglycerol channel regulation of the cytosolic calcium oscillations following glucose stimulation. Conversely, glucose uptake in islets is independent of TRPC3. TRPC3 pharmacologic inhibition and knockout in mice lead to defective insulin secretion and glucose intolerance. Subsequently, TRPC3 activation through targeted small-molecule enhances insulin secretion and alleviates diabetes hallmarks in animals. This study imputes a function for TRPC3 at the onset of GSIS. These insights strengthen one's knowledge of insulin secretion physiology and set forth the TRPC3 channel as an appealing candidate for drug development in the treatment of diabetes.

Mitochondrial TRPC3 promotes cell proliferation by regulating the mitochondrial calcium and metabolism in renal polycystin-2 knockdown cells

PURPOSE

Previous studies indicate that autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) cells exhibited dysregulated calcium homeostasis and enhanced cell proliferation. TRPC3 has been shown to function in the modulation of calcium and sodium entry, but whether TRPC3 plays a role in cellular abnormalities of ADPKD cells has not been defined.

METHODS

Human conditionally immortalized proximal tubular epithelial cells and mouse IMCD3 cells were used with polycystin-2 (PC2, TRPP2) knockdown. Cell proliferation assay was used to detect the cell proliferations upon different treatments. QRT-PCR and western blotting were used to measure the expression profiles of TRPP2 and other proteins. High-resolution respirometry, enzymic activities and ROS levels were detected to reflect the mitochondrial functions. Calcium and sodium uptakes were measured using Fura2-AM and SBFI dyes.

RESULTS

We showed that PC2 knockdown promoted cell proliferation, ROS productions and ERK phosphorylation, compared with negative control. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that receptor-operated calcium entry (ROCE) exhibited less reductions compared with store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) upon PC2 knockdown. Inhibition of ROCE and SOCE by specific inhibitors partially reversed the enhanced cell proliferation, ROS productions and ERK phosphorylation induced by PC2 knockdown. Moreover, TRPC3 upregulation was observed upon PC2 knockdown, which acted as both SOC and ROC, promoting cation entry, cell proliferation and ERK phosphorylation. Furthermore, we showed that mitochondrial located TRPC3 was upregulated and modulating mitochondrial calcium uptake, thus promoting the ROS productions in the presence of PC2 knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that TRPC3 upregulation upon PC2 knockdown aggravated the mitochondrial abnormalities and cell proliferation by modulating mitochondrial calcium uptake. Targeting TRPC3 might be a promising target for ADPKD treatment.

Bone Marrow-Derived Endothelial Progenitor Cells Contribute to Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Rats via Inhibition of Store-Operated Ca2+ Channels

Purpose

This study aimed to explore whether bone marrow- (BM-) derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contributing to monocrotaline- (MCT-) induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rats via modulating store-operated Ca²⁺ channels (SOC).

Methods

Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were assigned into MCT group (n = 30) and control group (n = 20). Rats in MCT group were subcutaneously administered with 60 mg/kg MCT solution, and rats in control group were injected with equal amount of vehicle. After 3 weeks of treatment, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) of two groups were measured, and BM-derived EPCs were isolated. Immunochemistry identification and vasculogenesis detection of EPCs were then performed. [Ca²⁺]_cyt measurement was performed to detect store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in two groups, followed by determination of Orai and canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels expression.

Results

After 3 weeks of treatment, there were significant increases in RVSP and RVHI in MCT group compared with control group, indicating that MCT successfully induced PAH in rats. Moreover, the SOCE ([Ca²⁺]_cyt rise) in BM-derived EPCs of MCT group was lower than that of control group. Furthermore, the expression levels of Orai3, TRPC1, TRPC3, and TRPC6 in BM-derived EPCs were decreased in MCT group in comparison with control group.

Conclusions

The SOC activities were inhibited in BM-derived EPCs of MCT-treated rats. These results may be associated with the depressed expression of Orai3, TRPC1, TRPC3, and TRPC6, which are major mediators of SOC.

Shenfu Injection attenuates rat myocardial hypertrophy by up-regulating miR-19a-3p expression

Shenfu Injection (SFI) is a classical Chinese medicine used to treat heart failure. Our previous study demonstrated that miRNAs underwent changes in rats with myocardial hypertrophy induced by abdominal aortic constriction. Interestingly, there was a significant change in miR-19a-3p, whose target gene is known to be associated with MEF2 signaling. However, whether and how SFI regulates miR-19a-3p in the treatment of myocardial hypertrophy has not been investigated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the regulatory effect of SFI on miR-19a-3p in MEF2 signaling in the rat hypertrophic myocardium. We found that the miR-19a-3p expression level was significantly decreased in the hypertrophic myocardium, and MEF2A was the target gene of miR-19a-3p. The protein expressions of MEF2A, β-MHC, BNP and TRPC1 were significantly increased in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. MiR-19a-3p was up-regulated after SFI treatment, and the protein expressions of these genes were significantly decreased. In addition, miR-19a-3p over-expression in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes could decrease MEF2A mRNA and protein expressions, and anti-miR-19a-3p showed the opposite result. Our study provided substantial evidence that miR-19a-3p played a functional role in MEF2 signaling in myocardial hypertrophy. SFI attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy probably through up-regulating or maintaining the miR-19a-3p levels and regulating the MEF2 signaling pathway.

Enhanced Mitochondrial Transient Receptor Potential Channel, Canonical Type 3-Mediated Calcium Handling in the Vasculature From Hypertensive Rats

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis is fundamental to the regulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and adenosine triphosphate production. Recently, transient receptor potential channel, canonical type 3 (TRPC3), has been shown to localize to the mitochondria and to play a role in maintaining mitochondrial calcium homeostasis. Inhibition of TRPC3 attenuates vascular calcium influx in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). However, it remains elusive whether mitochondrial TRPC3 participates in hypertension by increasing mitochondrial calcium handling and ROS production.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study we demonstrated increased TRPC3 expression in purified mitochondria in the vasculature from SHRs, which facilitates enhanced mitochondrial calcium uptake and ROS generation compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats. Furthermore, inhibition of TRPC3 by its specific inhibitor, Pyr3, significantly decreased the vascular mitochondrial ROS production and H2O2 synthesis and increased adenosine triphosphate content. Administration of telmisartan can improve these abnormalities. This beneficial effect was associated with improvement of the mitochondrial respiratory function through recovering the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the vasculature of SHRs. In vivo, chronic administration of telmisartan suppressed TRPC3-mediated excessive mitochondrial ROS generation and vasoconstriction in the vasculature of SHRs. More importantly, TRPC3 knockout mice exhibited significantly ameliorated hypertension through reduction of angiotensin II-induced mitochondrial ROS generation.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, we give experimental evidence for a potential mechanism by which enhanced TRPC3 activity at the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial levels contributes to redox signaling and calcium dysregulation in the vasculature from SHRs. Angiotensin II or telmisartan can regulate [Ca2+]mito, ROS production, and mitochondrial energy metabolism through targeting TRPC3.

Leptin-Induced Endothelium-Independent Vasoconstriction in Thoracic Aorta and Pulmonary Artery of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Role of Calcium Channels and Stores

Decreased leptin-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation has been reported in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Here, we report leptin-induced vasoconstriction in endothelium-denuded pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta from SHR and sought to characterize calcium handling underlying these mechanisms. Vasoreactivity to leptin was evaluated on pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta rings from 18 weeks old male SHR with or without calcium free medium, caffeine + thapsigargin + carbonyl cyanide-4-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone emptying intracellular calcium stores, nifedipine a voltage-gated calcium channel inhibitor, SKF-96365 a transient receptor potential cation channels (TRPC) inhibitor, wortmaninn, a phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) inhibitor, or PD98059 a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) inhibitor. Calcium imaging was performed on cultured vascular smooth muscle cells incubated with leptin in presence or not of wortmaninn or PD98059. Leptin induced vasoconstriction in denuded pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta from SHR. Response was abolished when intra- or extracellular calcium stores were emptied, after blocking TRPC or voltage-dependent calcium channels or when using MAPKK or PI3K inhibitors. In vascular smooth muscle cells, leptin increased intracellular calcium. This rise was higher in SHR and abolished by MAPKK or PI3K inhibitors. TRPC6 gene expression was upregulated in arteries from SHR. Leptin-induced vasoconstriction in denuded arteries of SHR requires intracellular stores and is TRPC- and voltage-gated calcium channels dependent. Intracellular calcium increase is more pronounced in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Evidence of a Role for Fibroblast Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 3 Ca2+ Channel in Renal Fibrosis

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) Ca(2+)-permeant channels, especially TRPC3, are increasingly implicated in cardiorenal diseases. We studied the possible role of fibroblast TRPC3 in the development of renal fibrosis. In vitro, a macromolecular complex formed by TRPC1/TRPC3/TRPC6 existed in isolated cultured rat renal fibroblasts. However, specific blockade of TRPC3 with the pharmacologic inhibitor pyr3 was sufficient to inhibit both angiotensin II- and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-induced Ca(2+) entry in these cells, which was detected by fura-2 Ca(2+) imaging. TRPC3 blockade or Ca(2+) removal inhibited fibroblast proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation by suppressing the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2). In addition, pyr3 inhibited fibrosis and inflammation-associated markers in a noncytotoxic manner. Furthermore, TRPC3 knockdown by siRNA confirmed these pharmacologic findings. In adult male Wistar rats or wild-type mice subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction, TRPC3 expression increased in the fibroblasts of obstructed kidneys and was associated with increased Ca(2+) entry, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and fibroblast proliferation. Both TRPC3 blockade in rats and TRPC3 knockout in mice inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation and fibroblast activation as well as myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix remodeling in obstructed kidneys, thus ameliorating tubulointerstitial damage and renal fibrosis. In conclusion, TRPC3 channels are present in renal fibroblasts and control fibroblast proliferation, differentiation, and activation through Ca(2+)-mediated ERK signaling. TRPC3 channels might constitute important therapeutic targets for improving renal remodeling in kidney disease.

Transient receptor potential channels in the vasculature

The mammalian genome encodes 28 distinct members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of cation channels, which exhibit varying degrees of selectivity for different ionic species. Multiple TRP channels are present in all cells and are involved in diverse aspects of cellular function, including sensory perception and signal transduction. Notably, TRP channels are involved in regulating vascular function and pathophysiology, the focus of this review. TRP channels in vascular smooth muscle cells participate in regulating contractility and proliferation, whereas endothelial TRP channel activity is an important contributor to endothelium-dependent vasodilation, vascular wall permeability, and angiogenesis. TRP channels are also present in perivascular sensory neurons and astrocytic endfeet proximal to cerebral arterioles, where they participate in the regulation of vascular tone. Almost all of these functions are mediated by changes in global intracellular Ca(2+) levels or subcellular Ca(2+) signaling events. In addition to directly mediating Ca(2+) entry, TRP channels influence intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics through membrane depolarization associated with the influx of cations or through receptor- or store-operated mechanisms. Dysregulation of TRP channels is associated with vascular-related pathologies, including hypertension, neointimal injury, ischemia-reperfusion injury, pulmonary edema, and neurogenic inflammation. In this review, we briefly consider general aspects of TRP channel biology and provide an in-depth discussion of the functions of TRP channels in vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and perivascular cells under normal and pathophysiological conditions.

Danger- and pathogen-associated molecular patterns recognition by pattern-recognition receptors and ion channels of the transient receptor potential family triggers the inflammasome activation in immune cells and sensory neurons

An increasing number of studies show that the activation of the innate immune system and inflammatory mechanisms play an important role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. The innate immune system is present in almost all multicellular organisms and its activation occurs in response to pathogens or tissue injury via pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Intracellular pathways, linking immune and inflammatory response to ion channel expression and function, have been recently identified. Among ion channels, the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a major family of non-selective cation-permeable channels that function as polymodal cellular sensors involved in many physiological and pathological processes.

In this review, we summarize current knowledge of interactions between immune cells and PRRs and ion channels of TRP families with PAMPs and DAMPs to provide new insights into the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. TRP channels have been found to interfere with innate immunity via both nuclear factor-kB and procaspase-1 activation to generate the mature caspase-1 that cleaves pro-interleukin-1β cytokine into the mature interleukin-1β.

Sensory neurons are also adapted to recognize dangers by virtue of their sensitivity to intense mechanical, thermal and irritant chemical stimuli. As immune cells, they possess many of the same molecular recognition pathways for danger. Thus, they express PRRs including Toll-like receptors 3, 4, 7, and 9, and stimulation by Toll-like receptor ligands leads to induction of inward currents and sensitization in TRPs. In addition, the expression of inflammasomes in neurons and the involvement of TRPs in central nervous system diseases strongly support a role of TRPs in inflammasome-mediated neurodegenerative pathologies. This field is still at its beginning and further studies may be required.

Overall, these studies highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting the inflammasomes in proinflammatory, autoinflammatory and metabolic disorders associated with undesirable activation of the inflammasome by using specific TRP antagonists, anti-human TRP monoclonal antibody or different molecules able to abrogate the TRP channel-mediated inflammatory signals.