title: Characterization of transient receptor potential vanilloid channel 4 (TRPV4) in human corneal endothelial cells.
abstract: The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a Ca(2+)-and Mg(2+) permeable cation channel that might be a cellular osmosensor since it is activated upon hypotonic cell swelling. TRPV4 is also thermosensitive and responds to moderate heat (from 24 to 27 °C) as well as to phorbol esters (4α-PDD) and several endogenous substances including arachidonic acid (AA), the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-AG, and cytochrome P-450 metabolites of AA, such as epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. The resulting Ca(2+) influx occurring in response to swelling induces regulatory volume decrease (RVD) behavior. As regulation of cell volume is essential for corneal endothelial function, we determined whether human corneal endothelial cells have functional TRPV4 channel activity. RT-PCR identified TRPV4 gene expression in the HCEC-12 cell line as well as two clonal daughter cell lines (HCEC-H9C1, HCEC-B4G12). [Ca(2+)](i) transients were monitored in fura-2 loaded cells. Nonselective cation channel currents were recorded in the whole-cell mode of the planar patch-clamp technique. TRPV4 mRNA was found in HCEC-12 and the clonal daughter cell lines. TRPV4 channel agonists (4α-PDD and GSK1016790A; both 5 μmol/l) as well as moderate heat (<40 °C) elicited [Ca(2+)](i) transients. Hypotonicity increased [Ca(2+)](i) and nonselective cation channel currents in HCEC-12 cells. There is functional TRPV4 expression in HCEC-12 and in its clonal daughter cell lines based on Ca(2+) transients and underlying currents induced by known activators of this channel.
authors: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. stefan.mergler@charite.de
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Mergler
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Valtink
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Taetz
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Sahlmüller
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Fels
authors: Peter S
authors: PS
authors: Reinach
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Engelmann
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Pleyer
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010704:Phorbols / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C517592:4alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanone; C530602:N-(1-((4-(2-(((2,4-dichlorophenyl)sulfonyl)amino)-3-hydroxypropanoyl)-1-piperazinyl)carbonyl)-3-methylbutyl)-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxamide; D010704:Phorbols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013449:Sulfonamides; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C416986:TRPV4 protein, human; D007930:Leucine; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2